Legal hurdles delay Infopark Phase III AI township development

Kochi: Envisioned as India’s first integrated artificial intelligence (AI) township, implementation of Infopark Phase III project is stuck in jurisdictional and legal complications with regards to its proposed land-pooling model.

To ensure that there is no further delay to the carbon-negative, water-positive and zero-waste project, the authorities have sought state govt’s intervention.They are requesting govt for amendments to existing govt orders or rules to kick start the land pooling process.According to Infopark CEO Susanth Kurunthil, primary hurdle stems from the project’s location. The proposed site falls within local panchayats of Kizhakkambalam and Kunnathunadu, entirely outside the jurisdiction of Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).“There are significant legal and statutory complications because the site is outside GCDA’s jurisdiction. We are in serious discussions with the new govt to determine whether this requires specific amendments to existing orders or modifications to Town and Country Planning Act. Land pooling cannot be initiated until these issues are sorted out,” the official told TOI.Infopark and GCDA last year signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the third phase development of the IT hub.

While Infopark owns the project, GCDA manages the land pooling framework, where small plots are consolidated, developed with international infrastructure, and a percentage of highly valued, developed land is returned to the original owners.The management has briefed govt on these roadblocks, noting that even a change in the project’s physical location remains on the table. The authorities also plan to pressure govt over the delayed road connectivity projects servicing the IT hub, especially projects like proposed eight-lane Greenfield corridor connecting Vyttila to Chittethukara and Chakkaraparambu–Vennala–Chittethukara–Infopark Road.Infopark to lease out 20 acres: Authorities have planned to lease out 20 acres out of the 45 acres previously frozen land that have been restored to Infopark, following the scrapping of SilverLine project. “We are left with nearly 20 acres for leasing out,” Kurunthil said. The management is currently in discussions with the prospective IT co-developers.The authorities also plan to utilize the land to fix critical infrastructure deficits within the 124-acre campus. Chief among them is the shortage of parking space. Other facilities like expansive food courts are also being planned.