Telangana government plans new IT clusters around Outer Ring Road
Hyderabad: The K. Chandrasekhar Rao government is on the lookout to have new IT clusters around Hyderabad Outer Ring Road.
With Hyderabad city saturated for IT growth and other industries, the government is seriously considering new sites along the 139 km ORR to promote IT, BT and other sectors.
The new IT hubs would have all infrastructure and facilities for the companies besides campuses having schools, colleges, hospitals, good roads, drinking water, drainage facilities, adequate power supply and policing among others.
“Hyderabad is saturated now. We have to develop new clusters for IT and other industries like pharma, life sciences among others. At the same time Hyderabad as its brand image should not lose its sheen. The only option right now is to develop new clusters around the ORR,” Harpreet Singh, secretary to the government’s, IT, Electronics and communication department told this newspaper.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao are giving a big push to the IT and other sectors to accelerate development, increase revenue and jack up employment opportunities in the new state.
Asked if the government has identified any specific areas around ORR, Mr Harpreet Singh said that places like Pocharam, Shamshabad Airport, Shamirpet, Medchal, which have better connectivity, has potential for IT growth.
“We now have 700 IT companies of various sizes with a work force of about 3 lakh employees. Hyderabad in Telangana is the second biggest IT hub in the country,” he said.
Mr Harpreet Singh said the government is contemplating setting up an Institute of Innovation, a public-private partnership on the lines of ISB to improve innovation in the IT sector and encourage and facilitate start-ups.
Hyderabad is the most sought after destination for IT companies. TCS is setting up its biggest campus in the city. Infosys is expanding from the present work force of 8,000 by adding another 10,000 soon, Oracle has set up its office here besides several other companies, he added.
Referring to a recent interaction between Mr Rama Rao, IT department officials and representatives of IT companies, Mr Harpreeet Singh said there were requests to increase frequency in MMTS, repair roads, improve lighting, introduce more surveillance cameras, and increase policing among other facilities.
A request was also made by the IT companies to extend the metro network to the financial district, but the authorities said it was not financially viable, he said.
