Kochi/SmartCity Kochi, Kakkanad

SmartCity Kochi, Kakkanad

Asia's First SmartCity Township, Where Global Capital Meets Kerala's Talent

SmartCity Kochi is a first-of-its-kind international IT Special Economic Zone and integrated knowledge-based township in Kakkanad, developed as a joint venture between Dubai Holding (84% stake) and the Government of Kerala (16% stake). Conceived in 2004 and operationally launched in 2016, it is the first Asian destination in the SmartCity global network of business townships and the only privately developed, fully SEZ-notified IT township in Kerala. Adjacent to Infopark, SmartCity sits within the same Kakkanad IT corridor and has attracted cumulative investment exceeding ₹3,758 crore in its de

Grade A IT Parks / SEZ Strata / Campus LeaseManaged OfficesCoworking SpacesSEZ / Tax IncentivesGrade A & ESG Assets
Total Companies (Phase 1 operational)~50 (including Fortune 500 firms)
Professionals Employed (Phase 1)~5,000 (Phase 1); capacity for 90,000+ when fully developed
Total Planned Built-Up Area8.8 million sq ft (minimum); 6.21 million sq ft earmarked for IT/ITES
SEZ StatusEntire 246-acre township holds a single Ministry of Commerce SEZ notification
SectorDescription of Presence
Energy TechnologyBaker Hughes, a GE Company, uses SmartCity as a KPO/GCC base for the region
Professional & Audit ServicesEY presence established in Phase 1 as an early anchor tenant
Healthcare TechnologyPart of the planned tenant mix for Phase 2 development
Total Companies (Phase 1 operational)~50 (including Fortune 500 firms)
Professionals Employed (Phase 1)~5,000 (Phase 1); capacity for 90,000+ when fully developed
Total Planned Built-Up Area8.8 million sq ft (minimum); 6.21 million sq ft earmarked for IT/ITES
SEZ StatusEntire 246-acre township holds a single Ministry of Commerce SEZ notification
SectorDescription of Presence
Energy TechnologyBaker Hughes, a GE Company, uses SmartCity as a KPO/GCC base for the region
Professional & Audit ServicesEY presence established in Phase 1 as an early anchor tenant
Healthcare TechnologyPart of the planned tenant mix for Phase 2 development

Key Employers

Baker HughesEY (Ernst & Young)PeakAir

Space Types Available

SEZ

Grade A IT Parks / SEZ Strata / Campus Lease

Managed Office

Managed Offices

Co-working

Coworking Spaces

SEZ

SEZ / Tax Incentives

Grade A

Grade A & ESG Assets

Commute & Connectivity

MetroRail / Suburban
ConnectionDetailsDistance
MetricFigure
Total Companies (Phase 1 operational)~50 (including Fortune 500 firms)
Professionals Employed (Phase 1)~5,000 (Phase 1); capacity for 90,000+ when fully developed
Total Planned Built-Up Area8.8 million sq ft (minimum); 6.21 million sq ft earmarked for IT/ITES
LuLu Twin Towers (inaugurated June 2025)3.5 million sq ft built-up; 2.5 million sq ft leasable; 30,000+ professional capacity
SEZ StatusEntire 246-acre township holds a single Ministry of Commerce SEZ notification
Metro Connections2 dedicated Pink Line stations (InfoPark 1/Smart City 1 & InfoPark 2/Smart City 2), under construction
SectorDescription of Presence
Energy TechnologyBaker Hughes, a GE Company, uses SmartCity as a KPO/GCC base for the region
Professional & Audit ServicesEY presence established in Phase 1 as an early anchor tenant
IT Infrastructure & Data CentresPeakAir's data centre provides internal data infrastructure; aligned with Kerala's push to become a data economy hub
AI & Future TechLuLu Twin Towers are specifically positioned as a destination for AI-driven enterprises and global tech companies
Healthcare TechnologyPart of the planned tenant mix for Phase 2 development

Companies in this Market

Nearest Metro Station(s)

~0.5 km (under constructionexpected 2026–2027)~7 km via Seaport-Airport Road

Airport

Cochin International Airport (CIAL)Nedumbassery, 22 km via Seaport-Airport Road

Nearest Mall / Amenity Hub

Lulu International Shopping MallOn-campus retailfood courts

Inter-City Road

SmartCity Kochi is the only integratedwith associated duty exemptions and tax benefits.The first phase, SCK-01

Phase 2, Rapid Scale-Up (Ongoing)

Phase 2 developmentexceeding 6 million sq fttwo 30-floor towers at 152 metres each500 croreMaratt Ltd, 4000 sq ft under development

Other Tenants

Note: Phase 2particularly the LuLu Twin Towersis designed and positioned to attract India's leading ITAISCK-01, SmartCity's original Phase 1 tower; 6co-developer asset within SmartCity SEZ

SEZ / Tax Incentives

IGST exemptions on importsthis is a material cost and compliance advantage.

Grade A & ESG Assets

energy-efficient design

Sectors with Significant Presence

Metric

Figure

Total Companies (Phase 1 operational)

~50 (including Fortune 500 firms)

Professionals Employed (Phase 1)

~5,000 (Phase 1); capacity for 90,000+ when fully developed

Total Planned Built-Up Area

8.8 million sq ft (minimum); 6.21 million sq ft earmarked for IT/ITES

LuLu Twin Towers (inaugurated June 2025)

3.5 million sq ft built-up; 2.5 million sq ft leasable; 30,000+ professional capacity

SEZ Status

Entire 246-acre township holds a single Ministry of Commerce SEZ notification

Metro Connections

2 dedicated Pink Line stations (InfoPark 1/Smart City 1 & InfoPark 2/Smart City 2), under construction

Energy Technology

Baker Hughes, a GE Company, uses SmartCity as a KPO/GCC base for the region

Professional & Audit Services

EY presence established in Phase 1 as an early anchor tenant

IT Infrastructure & Data Centres

PeakAir's data centre provides internal data infrastructure; aligned with Kerala's push to become a data economy hub

AI & Future Tech

LuLu Twin Towers are specifically positioned as a destination for AI-driven enterprises and global tech companies

Healthcare Technology

Part of the planned tenant mix for Phase 2 development

Infrastructure & Business Environment

Nearest Metro Station(s)

  • InfoPark 1 / Smart City 1, dedicated Phase 2 Pink Line station at SmartCity entrance, ~0.5 km (under construction, expected 2026–2027), InfoPark 2 / Smart City 2, second dedicated station deeper within the township campus (same Pink Line), Palarivattom Junction, nearest currently operational metro station, ~7 km via Seaport-Airport Road

Nearest Railway Station

  • Ernakulam Junction (South), ~14 km via Seaport-Airport Road, Ernakulam Town (North), ~13 km

Airport

  • Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Nedumbassery, 22 km via Seaport-Airport Road

Major Highway / Expressway

  • Seaport-Airport Road, primary access route; SmartCity sits directly off this arterial road, NH-66 (Edapally–Aroor Bypass), 6 km to entry point at Vyttila

Key Feeder Roads

  • Infopark Kakkanad Road serves both Infopark and SmartCity campus, which are physically adjacent; the two townships share road infrastructure and internal access points

Nearest Mall / Amenity Hub

  • Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally, 12 km, On-campus retail, food courts, and a GEMS Education school (proposed, 3,000+ student capacity) are part of the SmartCity township master plan

Bus / KSRTC

  • KSRTC and private services connecting Kakkanad to Ernakulam and city nodes serve SmartCity via the same Kakkanad junction stop as Infopark, Kerala SWTD boat service: Kakkanad–Vyttila Mobility Hub

Inter-City Road

  • Kochi city centre (MG Road), 12 km, Cochin Port (Willingdon Island), ~18 km SmartCity Kochi is the only integrated, privately developed IT SEZ township in Kerala. The Ministry of Commerce granted a single SEZ notification for the entire 246-acre land parcel, an unusual approval that was critical because the land is separated by a water body. This unified SEZ status means every building within the township can operate as an SEZ unit, with associated duty exemptions and tax benefits.

Phase 1, Operational Foundation (2016–present)

The first phase, SCK-01, a 6,50,000 sq ft IT tower, was inaugurated in February 2016. This 4-storied building brought the first anchor tenants including Baker Hughes and EY and established the operational framework for the township.

Phase 2, Rapid Scale-Up (Ongoing)

Phase 2 development, exceeding 6 million sq ft, is being executed through multiple co-developers:, LuLu Group (Sands Infra), Inaugurated June 2025: South India's tallest IT office complex, two 30-floor towers at 152 metres each, spanning 12.74 acres with 3.5 million sq ft built-up and 2.5 million sq ft of leasable space. Developed at ₹1,500 crore, the towers feature a robotic parking system and are designed to host AI-driven and technology enterprises. LuLu IT Parks aims to create 50,000+ professional employment opportunities across its Kochi properties over the next three years., Prestige Group, 1.2 million sq ft under development, Holiday Group, 1.5 million sq ft under development, Maratt Ltd, 4,00,000 sq ft under development The Government of Kerala has confirmed that more than 100 companies are awaiting land allocation within SmartCity as of December 2024, underscoring the latent demand pipeline within the township.

Global Technology Corporations

Baker Hughes (Fortune 500 energy technology company)

Other Tenants

PeakAir Pvt Ltd (data centre and data traffic management; operates a dedicated Data Centre inside SmartCity) *Note: Phase 2, particularly the LuLu Twin Towers, is designed and positioned to attract India's leading IT, AI, and ITES enterprises. The tenant mix will expand significantly as Phase 2 leasing activates.*

Grade A IT Parks / SEZ (Strata / Campus Lease)

  • SCK-01, SmartCity's original Phase 1 tower; 6,50,000 sq ft; fully SEZ-notified; current home to anchor tenants, LuLu IT Twin Towers, South India's tallest IT office complex; 3.5 million sq ft; 30 floors each; 152m height; inaugurated June 2025; designed for large enterprise and GCC occupation; features robotic parking and smart building systems, Prestige Group Development, 1.2 million sq ft Grade A IT campus, co-developer asset within SmartCity SEZ, Holiday Group & Maratt Ltd Blocks, Additional Grade A IT buildings under various stages of completion within the SEZ

Managed Offices

  • Managed office operators are expected to be present within the LuLu Twin Towers and Prestige Group developments; co-developer assets typically include managed workspace tiers for mid-size companies entering the SEZ

Coworking Spaces

  • Business centre / plug-and-play options are part of the SCK-01 and LuLu Towers operational framework; formal coworking operator partnerships are part of the Phase 2 activation plan

SEZ / Tax Incentives

SmartCity Kochi holds one of India's largest single SEZ notifications, the entire 246-acre township. SEZ units benefit from income tax holidays on export earnings, IGST exemptions on imports, and single-window clearance from the Development Commissioner (DC) of the Cochin SEZ. For GCCs and global IT companies, this is a material cost and compliance advantage.

Talent Pipeline

  • CUSAT (Cochin University of Science and Technology), ~5 km; one of Kerala's top technical universities, IIM Kozhikode Satellite Campus at adjacent Infopark, Kerala's NRI diaspora creates a culture of return migration for skilled engineering and management professionals; Kochi specifically benefits from its strong community of IT returnees from the US and Middle East

Grade A & ESG Assets

SmartCity's master plan adheres to international sustainability standards. LuLu Twin Towers feature smart building systems, energy-efficient design, and are positioned as future-ready, ESG-compliant Grade A assets. The township design incorporates green spaces, a waterbody interface, and sustainable waste management as part of the Dubai Holding–Kerala Government joint vision.

Power & Connectivity

PeakAir's Data Centre within SmartCity manages a major portion of internal data traffic and provides 100% uptime connectivity for park tenants. Proximity to the VSNL international gateway (adjacent to Infopark next door) provides access to the same submarine cable infrastructure (SAFE and SEA-ME-WE 3) that underpins Infopark's global connectivity advantage.