CHENNAI: Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday said he would ask the State Government to extend Chennai's Information Technology corridor up to Mahabalipuram to ensure further growth of the sector.

He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the information technology park, run by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu Limited (SIPCOT), at Siruseri on the IT corridor (Old Mahabalipuram Road).

Mr. Maran said the extension would help as land prices were spiralling along the already developed stretch. "The remaining 30 km-stretch can be developed. We have to learn ... from Bangalore and look towards providing housing colonies closer to the IT corridor. The State Government has set up a task force that will look at developing IT infrastructure in and around Chennai as well as in Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai and Thirunelveli."

The Minister charged the previous AIADMK Government with having adopted a lackadaisical approach to developing the IT corridor and the sector in general. Work on creating a six-lane highway along the IT corridor was moving slowly.

"I will talk to officials of Highways and the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation and ask them to expedite the project in a phased manner."

Siruseri park

He said the AIADMK Government had shown little interest in promoting the Siruseri park. Of the 71 companies that were allotted land in the park since 2000, only eight have begun operations.

"The success rate is just 10.5 per cent, which is further proof that the previous government was not serious about promoting IT. We will find out the reasons why most of the companies have not been able to set up shop ... "

The Siruseri park is one of the 17 parks maintained by SIPCOT, and the only one dedicated to IT companies.

The total extent of the park is proposed to be 1,000 acres. So far, 726 acres have been acquired.

Nanguneri park

Mr. Maran said several television had companies evinced interest in the free colour television scheme proposed by the DMK in its election manifesto. There was an opportunity for setting up a television manufacturing unit in the State. "It will be the ideal project to kick-start the Nanguneri industrial park. The Ministry of Information Technology will recommend that to the State Government. It will serve a dual purpose — fulfilling the election promise and generating employment."

Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan, Industries Secretary Shaktikantha Das and SIPCOT chairman and managing director N. Sundaradevan were present.

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