Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112955700800.htm

Other States - Orissa

Orissa to go ahead with IT project

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government on Friday said it would not decelerate its efforts to put infrastructure in place for information technology (IT) industries despite grim outlook for the sector in view of global recession.

The State government, which was buoyed by the response from IT and ITES companies those proposed to shift their major operation to Bhubaneswar a year ago, had planned a second Infocity, an exclusive developed area of the companies.

Since there would be adverse impact on IT industry due to the slump, it was apprehended that the companies, who had promised to have their own facilities in the temple city, could put a break on their campus development here.

However, the IT department has put all apprehensions to one side. “We have earmarked fund in supplementary budgets for developing the second Infocity for which 500 acres have already been acquired,” said State IT Minister Surya Narayan Patra on the sidelines of a seminar on Information Communication Technology (ICT)-2008.

The seminar was organised by Orissa chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Mr. Patra said Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (IDCO) had been entrusted with the task to develop physical infrastructure such as road and electricity at an estimated investment of Rs. 150 crores.

Training

“We hope that the Infocity-II would be fully functional by 2012. The space created for IT industries is expected to attract Rs. 4,000 crores,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC) said it would not discontinue training for college teachers on skills required for getting recruited in IT and ITES companies.

“The impact of global slowdown is bound to reflect on recruitment drive in the State. But we are not disturbed by the trend. We consider the recession is temporary phenomenon. The college teachers will be asked to concentrate more on imparting skill training to students so that they could withstand the competition,” said A. K Panda of OCAC.

Meanwhile, IT giant Infosys, which started Project Genesis to train college teachers who would in turn try to increase employability of students, said it had no idea as how much students the company would recruit in view of recession.