THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-anticipated Neopolis IT Township project in the capital is set to take off, following the Centre’s in-principle approval last week. The project marks the first phase of the proposed outer area growth corridor (OAGC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a meeting held on Dec 22 with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and chief secretary Sarada Muraleedharan, Union minister of housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar assured that the OAGC project is under active consideration and that Neopolis would soon receive formal approval.
To expedite the project, the state govt will convene a high-level meeting in Jan with the capital region development programme-II (CRDP-II).
“The meeting with the Union minister was positive. Since Neopolis is part of the OAGC, it will be prioritized for approval. The revised masterplan, submitted last month by CRDP-II, awaits state govt approval, which will be the first step towards implementation,” a source close to the project said.
The Neopolis project will be developed on 390 acres identified in Technopark Phase IV at Pallipuram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to officially announce the Rs 1,000 crore project, which is part of a nationwide initiative spanning eight states. Thiruvananthapuram is the only city in Kerala included in this ambitious plan.
To oversee planning and coordination, the state govt has constituted a nine-member joint panel led by the IT secretary. A govt order formalizing this panel was issued last month.
The Neopolis IT township will focus on aerospace clusters and sectors such as electronics, software, and IT. It will also incorporate advanced technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, blockchain, and the Internet of Things.
In addition to industrial and IT infrastructure, Neopolis will feature residential buildings, shopping malls, recreational facilities, and five-star hotels, creating a self-sustaining urban hub.
Meanwhile, the state govt has been dragging its feet on the land acquisition proceedings of the Outer Ring Road project, a critical component supporting the Vizhinjam International Seaport’s industrial corridor, has stalled due to land acquisition challenges. Landowners have opposed the current compensation model, which calculates payouts based on building depreciation instead of market value. They are demanding fair compensation and expedited acquisition processes, as many documents remain with revenue officials.
The state govt is reportedly planning to seek intervention from the Centre to revise the existing compensation regulations.
