Technopark - inside stories
January 27th, 2007
Yesterday I wrote a post on the kerala sabdam article on ‘exploitation in IT companies in Technopark’. After writing this post, I happened to talk to a friend who works in Technopark. He had some interesting things to share,
Technopark is run by Kerala government. So like any government department, corruption is part of it. There were many complaints against hotels running inside the campus. After lot of complaints and news reports, some improvements were made - but food has become costlier! - their attitude? - ‘venamengil thinnittu poda’
Sometime back when government was trying to recruit a CEO for the campus, officials tried to hijack it by not sending intimation letters to some of the candidates. They wanted to ensure that ‘their man’ became the CEO!
Entering campus is not easy. There was a lady who used to supply good food at cheap rates to one company inside the campus. Sources tell me that she had to pay a bribe of Rs. 5 per lunch box for getting into the campus! - In malayalam - ‘pichachattiyil kayyittu vaaral!”
There is a strong trade union wing inside campus. They do all the loading/unloading required inside the campus. I am told that to unload a big carpet they charged Rs. 50,000!! There are agents inside who will inform the trade union guys of any movement inside the campus.
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January 28th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Hi,
Read this article and thought I would reply with a few clarifications.
Technopark is now setting up a food court inside its latest building, the 600,000 sft Thejaswini. This 20,000 sft facility will be mostly like be run by the food court chain, Planet Yumm! which includes such global brands as Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonalds and Subway.
An internal audit has also been conducted in all restaurants inside the Park to ensure that quality standards are met.
To draw a fair comparison, Technopark fares much better than its lesser cousin, Infopark, where I hear that there is nothing worth a mention in the culinary department.
Taj Hotels has also set up a business class hotel under the Ginger brand within Technopark, the first such facility in any major IT park in India.
The comments about the choice of CEO are anybody’s guess. It’s part and parcel of Govt., that there are some power politics around. The gentleman who was selected has a distingushed track record in a series of global IT majors, and seems to be a good choice on any grounds.
And if there is skulduggery happening, it seems to be happening elsewhere. For example, the last CEO of Infopark was apparently given the boot for showing too much attachment to a certain private real estate project, which has also been trashed by the Govt. of Kerala.
One thing needs to be kept in mind, by one and all. Technopark was, is and will be Kerala’s claim to fame in the IT world. That the IT sector paid attention to Kerala at all, is due to this facility, which blazed a trail in this space back in the mid-90s, when Bangalore was still famous as a pensioner’s paradise!
As it expands, all of us need to support Technopark, so that it develops as India’s premier park and provides avenues for thousands of Keralites working outside the State to come home and work here.
Cheers,
Ajay
January 28th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Hi Friend,
It is interesting. I am working in Infopark,Kochi. At least you have some options in Technopark and a mass is there to react. Here in infopark we do not have options. Also forget about going out since the place is like a remote jungle. Our complaints are going to deaf ears. Just to accept soudexo the caterar has increased the lunch price by 5 Rs. Hope the scenarios will improve.
Thanks & Regards,
Aji
January 29th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Some time back when i was working in technopark, there was amrita hotels and some other caterers in nila and the park centre. Dunno if it has expanded. US S/w used to have their own caterers. Amidst all these, there survived a small “thattu” aptly called “california” just oustide the campus. It used to be reasanably priced and had mouth waterimng beef fry and fish fry. Dunno if its still there though.
As regards trade union, you could not be more correct. I have seen a gang of trade union people with mundum madakki kuthi negotatiating in my company CEO’s posh room. Our CEO who used to have a commanding power over us resembled a meek cat in front of those goons.
Technopark set the trail of IT parks across India. Everyone else grew. Except us. We are still where we were 17 years ago when Rajeev Gandhi/Karunakar-ji inaugrated the Park.
January 31st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I admit that problems in Technopark is nothing when you look at Infopark!
February 8th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I’m not convinced about the logic behind keralatips’ conclusion as ignoring the problem in Technopark with a comparison to Infopark.
Can you ignore poverty in indian villages just ‘coz african countries are more poverty prone?
Can you ignore your dad’d mouth cancer just ‘coz your friend’d dad has brain cancer?
Food court is yet to come & surely bit more costly…
But nobody till day controlled quality of food in restuarents of technopark.
Moreover, most of these are run by tamilians. Malayalles don’t like tamil meals at all.
California & fish fris are still there, but the very very bad smell from their plate cleaning place is unbearable der friend..
Amrita restaurent was shut down following a food poison incident was reported. But now they are back in same force.
Infopark friends… please post yours in detail
Regards,
Suku
February 8th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Hey Suku, I am not saying the problem with technopark is to be ignored! What I gathered from people around infopark guys is that things are worse there. Thatz all.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Come to infopark and the stench from the hotels is horrible. Waste water is overflowing….imagine what these foreign dignateries who visits these paces frequently, think about our management.There is no proper carpark or two wheeler parking areas…..How come government is allowing such higly inefficent people to run these types of setup. I dont mind in calling these officials as terrorist, anti nationals etc as these people are also destroying india as terrorist do in making a wonderfull gods own land into devils own land.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Food in Technopark restaurants is expensive, but stale. The Technopark authorities are turning a blind eye to this. I really think there is corruption in giving license to the people running the restaurants.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
To get hired in Technopark, you have to go through certain agencies run by a former CEO. He controls the place like a Tyrant with people appointed by him in the Technopark Office.
From then on, the employee has to be totally act like a slave. If you decide to quit, then forget about getting a job within Technopark again. The CEOs act like a pack of wolves.
Technopark is more of a construction/real estate business than IT Development. I genuinely feel sorry for the employees at Technopark. They are exploited to the hilt but each one in typical Trivandrum fashion only worries about his benefit. It is the typical Frog like Existence in the Well that he thinks is his Universe!! (I did not want to put the Malayalam quote straight).