Date:16/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/16/stories/2006061606800400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tamil Nadu plans comprehensive IT policy

Special Correspondent

Tier 2 and tier 3 cities will be promoted: Karunanidhi

ALL FOR IT: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi (right) calling on Wipro Chairman Azim Premji in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Tamil Nadu will shortly unveil a comprehensive IT (information technology) policy and promote tier 2 and tier 3 cities in the State in a bid to strengthen its already growing reputation as a favoured destination for technology companies, its Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, said here on Thursday.

Infosys Technologies has already said that it will invest Rs. 1,250 crore in setting up a campus in Chennai that would employ about 25,000 people.

The proposed policy would involve setting up of a task force and addressing infrastructure issues. Besides, the Government would promote tier 2 and tier 3 cities such as Hosur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tirunelveli to attract more investments, especially from the IT sector, he told presspersons after visiting the facilities of IT majors Infosys and Wipro here.

On a three-day private visit here, Mr. Karunanidhi took time off to visit the facilities of Infosys and Wipro to find out firsthand what was required by these two firms to invest in his State.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and a seven-member official delegation.

T.V. Mohandas Pai, Head, Human Resources Development and Education and Research, Infosys, said the firm is setting up its largest campus spread over 125 acres at Mahindra City near Chennai. The Rs. 1,250-crore facility, with five million sq. ft built-up area would be ready within three to four years.

Stating that Chennai and Hyderabad were the fastest growing cities in the country in the IT sector, Mr. Pai disclosed that Infosys would recruit about 5,000 people by the year-end for its Chennai development centres to add to its present staff strength of 3,500. As many as 25,000 job opportunities would be created in Tamil Nadu in three to four years, he added.

Mr. Karunanidhi also held a 45-minute meeting with Wipro Chairman Azim Premji.