Date:26/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/26/stories/2006032602900200.htm

Back Karnataka Govt clears Infosys land acquisition

Our Bureau

Bangalore , March 25

Infosys Technologies' pursuit of land acquisition in the city ended with the Karnataka Government finally having cleared its case recently for 845 acres.

Mr Shankarlinge Gowda, IT & BT Secretary to the Karnataka Government, told Business Line that allotment of land on Sarjapur Road had been made after getting the green signal from the land audit committee.

Earlier, Infosys' efforts to acquire land around Bangalore were mired in controversy after the former Prime Minister, Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, had expressed his reservation over the previous Government's "indiscriminate land allotment'' to IT companies, including Infosys. He had sought details of land allotment against the employment generated, which the company provided in October.

New proposals

The company had also put on hold its expansion of operations in the city, citing lack of space. Now, Infosys proposes to set up a software development centre and a residential facility for its employees in the new plot. It expects to generate 25,000 jobs in the new facility, and will invest Rs 1,500 crore in the first phase.