Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated two Neo Tidel parks in Thanjavur and Salem on Monday, marking a significant step towards expanding IT job opportunities in smaller cities. These facilities, each with a seating capacity of 1,000, are part of the government’s broader initiative to drive information technology jobs to tier-II and tier-III cities.

The parks, spanning 55,000 square feet each, are built as G+3 structures. The Salem park, developed at a cost of ?295 million, has already secured commitments for 70% of its capacity, while the Thanjavur facility has commitments for 30%, according to Sandeep Nanduri, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

The IT, ITES, health-tech companies, and startups have shown keen interest in occupying these spaces. TIDCO is also in talks with additional clients and expects more work orders in the coming weeks. The success of these parks highlights the growing demand for quality office spaces in smaller cities, where such facilities are often limited.

This move follows the February inauguration of a similar 63,000 sq ft park in Villupuram, with additional parks in Tuticorin, Vellore, and Tirupur expected to open by the end of the year. The government aims to establish a total of seven Neo Tidel parks, first announced in the 2021-22 budget, to foster growth and job creation across Tamil Nadu’s smaller cities.