In what could be a relief to the local IT/ITeS entrepreneurs who are being forced to pay high rentals in the capital region, the IT incubation tower by Software Technology Parks of India is going to be ready by March next year. The proposal to construct two IT towers with one lakh square feet plug and play area was made in May 2013 by STPI which then started a small incubation centre in the premises of Govt. Polytechnic College.
50,000 sq.ft. work area
Due to delay in sanction of permissions, the project undertaken by the Central Public Works Department took off only in September 2015 and the works for raising one of two towers as part of Phase-I were going on at present. Completion of the first tower brings up 50,000 square feet of plug and play area for the IT/ITeS companies allowing the offices running at various locations of city to come under one roof at minimal rentals and state-of-art facilities, including high-speed internet.
STPI Director C.V.D. Ram Prasad told The Hindu that construction of the tower was on and slabs were being laid and by March next the tower would be ready for occupation.
“Local companies are awaiting the same and there is a lot of demand. We will start reaching out to them once the tower takes a shape,” Mr. Prasad added.
Local IT fraternity, engineering graduates and students had been hoping that completion of the IT towers would boost the IT industry and bring more opportunities for them. In the wake of Medha IT Park at Gannavaram being de-notified, IT firms in Vijayawada and Guntur have been eyeing the space in the heart of the city. There are 23 IT/ITeS firms registered with STPI, Vijayawada at present.
