State calls proposals for setting up Shimoga IT park

Official sources told Deccan Herald that project management consultants have been invited to submit their RFP proposals with structural and architectural designs among other details.

Statutory approvals

This, they said, would help the State’s nodal implementing agency — Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keonics) to obtain necessary statutory approvals, prepare tender documents, facilitate appoint of contractors for the IT park planned on the Bhadravathi-Shimoga National Highway in KIADB Nidige Industrial Area. Sources said that the last date for submission of documents is September 14, 2009, post which Keonics would undertake to build the IT park, after necessary clearances, with a co-developer on a public-private partnership basis. The advisor to the project is IL&FS Education & Technology Ser vices Limited.

The Rs 15 crore park, will come up on a five acre plot in the non-SEZ area and initially 1 lakh sq ft of space will be utilised, sources said, adding it will comprise of two building blocks of five floors each, with each floor measuring 10,000 sq ft, and ready to occupy with all plug and play live facility. Depending on the demand and response the four acres will also be developed, they said.

The facility, once up and running, will be sold to IT companies engaged in IT, ITeS and hardware sectors and specifically catering to domestic market. These could be small, medium firms who can either take entire floor or be sub-divided depending upon companies interested in setting up shop at the IT park, they added.
Equity stake
Keonics, they said, will take an equity stake in the joint venture to be floated with a private partner following the selection through competitive bidding process. Incidentally, Keonics has been provided a budget provision of Rs 10 crore for the purpose.

Shimoga, they said, is being promoted as a city in the sunrise phase boasting of moderate climate, lower costs, good labour relations, besides excellent educational and research institutions.