Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will be turned into a hub of higher education research with the K-Space and Digital Science Parks becoming a reality, claimed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He announced that four digital science parks will be set up in the State at an expense of Rs 1000 crore, besides the K-Space in the space research sector. 

He was inaugurating the administrative block, under construction, of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University at Vilappilsala here. 

The university campus is being constructed on a sprawling 100-acre land taken over at Nedumkuzhi at an estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore, for which an amount of Rs 71 crore has been earmarked in the State budget. An amount of Rs 42 crore will be spent from the University fund. 

Kattakkada MLA I B Sathish delivered the welcome speech at the function, presided over by Higher Education Minister R Bindu. Finance Minister K N Balagopal, Varkala MLA V Joy besides university Vice Chancellor Dr Saji Gopinath were among those who participated in the function.