Bangalore Helix project to commence construction by early July

Bangalore Helix project to commence construction by early July

Pharma Biz

Karnataka’s much-awaited Biotech Park,‘Bangalore Helix’, is expected to witness the groundbreaking ceremony in the first week of July. The state government’s department of information technology and biotechnology, floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) during the second week of May to seek competent construction companies with ample experience to take on the assignment. The department has already finalised the Singapore-based architects Jurong (JTC) which has a full-fledged office in Bangalore to execute the project on similar lines that of the Software Technology Park of India.

The officials from the department of information technology and biotechnology stated that Jurong would be evaluating the technical competence of the builders. Currently 5 construction companies have bid for the job. Only after a scrutiny will they be able to provide more details.

The IT &B officials were not in a position to provide the exact duration for commissioning the Park which will definitely span the next 18 months “We are keeping the fingers crossed regarding the pace of the project construction and the speed of execution,” they added.

The Park, is scheduled to come up on 100 acres at a site located in the Electronic City, a leading industrial hub in the outskirts of Bangalore. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 25 crore. Funds have been chipped in by the Central government to the tune of Rs 11.5 crore. The state government in its Budget 2005 announced an allocation of Rs 6.5 crore which was later doubled because biotech being a sunrise industry was looked upon with ample potential for growth like information technology sector.

According to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, head Vision Group, government of Karnataka and chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited, the necessary efforts were going on by the State government to make the Park a reality.

The state had acquired 100 acres near the Electronics City early last year. There have been ample enquiries from leading companies in around the State and abroad to set base in the park.