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No land for new IT firms at Gachibowli

HYDERABAD: As the city continues to be a hot destination for Information Technology sector, the government is facing a piquant situation in terms of allotment of land to new companies here..

Availability of land has become a cause of concern as most companies are keen on allotment at Gachibowli, as it is the IT hub, or in the vicinity of the upcoming international airport at Shamshabad. From 909 units generating exports worth Rs. 5,025 crore in 2003-04, the number has increased to 1,408 units in three years scaling the Rs. 20,000-crore mark in exports.

Operations of a majority of the 1,400 units continue to be centred around Gachibowli and Madhapur. Faced with the ever-increasing traffic, the industry is already feeling the pinch.

Gachibowli, officials feel, has already reached a point of saturation, with numerous big and small IT establishments located there while land near the international airport has become a scarce commodity due to the real estate boom.

The government’s decision to achieve exports of over Rs. 25,000 crore this year is another factor that requires promotion of new units.

The government has embarked upon an exercise to promote ‘IT cities’ in the areas adjoining the city falling under Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts, on a pilot basis. “We do not want to face a logjam like Bangalore where neither land is available nor is it easy to commute due to overcrowding. We are, therefore, going slow on allotment of land,” said IT advisor to government C.S. Rao.

Once the results of the two pilot projects are available, the Government could plan for more such ventures that will help cater to the demand of the industry, Dr. Rao told The Hindu.

The Government would consider requests for allotment of space in Gachibowli and adjoining areas after thorough scrutiny of their potential for generating revenue and employment.

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