GIDC seeks to double FAR for 4 lakh sqm Verna IT park

Panaji: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) plans to enhance the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) from 150 to 300 for the proposed IT Park titled ‘Hello World’ at Verna industrial estate, subject to govt approval.

The proposed ‘Hello World’ is spread across 4 lakh sqm (98 acres) at the tail-end of phase IV of the estate.The GIDC has earmarked seven plots of 25,000sqm each for IT companies, which will come up on approximately 3 lakh sqm, with the remaining 1 lakh sqm being kept for the business hotel, hostel, and utility services.The decision was deliberated at the 398th board meeting of GIDC held on Thursday, where the board authorised the managing director to initiate all necessary steps in this regard.

The move aims to make the project financially attractive and operationally viable for prospective developers while aligning it with current market conditions.The layout plan, already cleared by the 37B committee, provides seven plots of around 25,000sqm each for IT companies, along with separate plots for staff accommodation. For GIDC, this marks a strategic shift from a broad focus on facilitating manufacturing to sector-specific plans for the information technology industry.

GIDC officials believe that Verna is a natural fit for the IT sector because of its strong infrastructure, stable industrial ecosystem, seamless connectivity, and proximity to the Goa International Airport, Dabolim.The GIDC earlier approved the launch of a special scheme for IT park development in Verna during its 396th board meeting. Officials said the project is designed to promote vertical growth, generate employment in the IT sector, and ensure more efficient land use.The proposal to double the FAR from 150 to 300 is backed by the Goa land development and building construction (amendment) regulations, 2024, which permit GIDC to relax FAR, setbacks, parking, and coverage with govt approval. Once approved, the FAR relaxation is expected to significantly boost the scale of development at ‘Hello World’, potentially making it one of Goa’s largest hubs for technology companies and allied services.Goa has a bleak record in setting up and running dedicated IT parks. In 2006, the govt moved to set up the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat on 90 acres at Dona Paula. The project remained in limbo for 18 years and never took off. In 2015, govt laid the foundation stone for an electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) park at Tuem, and the project has been grinding on since then with manufacturing activity yet to start.A few years later, a plan was drawn up to set up an IT Park at Chimbel on 4.5 lakh sqm of govt land on the Kadamba plateau.