Nine IT and ITES companies have been allotted 67 acres of land in the 147-acre Navalpattu IT Park here, one of the six IT parks promoted by the State government in its Tier-II cities through the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT).
The Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will hand over the allotment orders to the companies on October 22 when the foundation will be laid for the works on creation of Rs. 28 crore infrastructure that includes construction of 50,000 square feet built-up space, laying of roads, and provision of water supply and power.
“The IT Park in Tiruchi has received the highest patronage amongst Tier-II cities. The infrastructure works will be completed within 10 months from the time of start,” the State Minister for IT Poongothai Aladi Aruna told presspersons on Thursday. The works at the Madurai and Tirunelveli IT Parks will get over a month earlier, she said.
The companies that have been allotted land in the IT parks were also expected to carry out their construction works simultaneously. As per SEZ (Special Economic Zones) norms, land allotted to them can be taken back if they do not commence operations within two years, the Minister said, replying to a query.
Dr. Poongothai saw in the expansion of the Tiruchi Airport a high scope for bigger IT and ITES companies to launch operations in future.
Business Process Outsourcing, Dr. Poongothai observed, has been rising up the value chain, projecting creation of four lakh direct jobs and 12 lakh indirect jobs State-wide through the IT sector. Software exports has risen by 15 per cent in Tamil Nadu compared to the national average of 11 per cent, she explained, when asked to comment on the IT slowdown.
Software companies in Tamil Nadu were increasingly carrying out projects for European and African countries. Within India, there was enormous employment potential in projects pertaining to e-governance initiatives, Dr. Poongothai said.
Accompanied by the District Collector T. Soundiah, the Managing Director of ELCOT Santhosh Babu, the Tiruverumbur MLA K.N. Sekaran, and senior officials, the Minister visited the IT Park site earlier in the day.
