Vijayawada: A 100 days after the Telugu Desam took over governance in residuary Andhra Pradesh, the IT fraternity in and around Vijayawada remains confused over the industry’s future.
During electioneering, the TD leaders let no opportunity go by to promise that Vijayawada would be the party’s priority in terms of developing the IT sector, education, industries, transport and others. However, a 100 days later, the people still wait for the TD to keep its promises.
There has been no assurance given to the locals that an IT hub would be developed near Vijayawada.
The situation in the existing Medha IT Park at Gannavaram remains the same. Since bifurcation, not even a single company has started functioning from the IT Park, save the four firms that already existed.
A bunch of entrepreneurs, who had earlier planned to set up their companies in the Park stepped back due to lack of clarity from the state government on development of the IT sector.
“It is clear that the government is backing the development of Vizag as an IT hub and Kakinada, Vijayawada and other cities under ITIR. But the focus appears to be on Vizag and other cities are not being given prominence. Also, there is no assurance that IT companies would be given incentives to start up firms in Vijayawada,” said K. Thomas, an entrepreneur.
The locals had hoped that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, with his image of a tech savvy leader would develop the region on par with Hyderabad.
“Everyone here expected an IT hub on the lines of Hyderabad. Once we used to depend on Hyderabad and go there to set up an IT company. Now if Vizag is given priority, we have to go there. Our dream of having an IT hub here won’t come true. We had planned to move from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, but now it appears that we would have to move to Vizag after few years,” said Y. Chaitanya, an IT engineer in city-based software company.
“It’s only three months since Naidu became CM. There is still time. I am hopeful that the government, which made Vijayawada the capital, will also make a part of the capital an IT hub, which is the ultimate revenue generator,” said K. Pratyusha, a human resource manager.
