Union Minister for Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad has assured Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao that the Centre will cooperate with the State in providing infrastructure in the Information Technology and Investment Region (ITIR) project in Hyderabad.
He announced sanctioning of separate postal circle to the Telangana State and complimented the State government for its development initiatives.
In a meeting with the Chief Minister in the Secretariat on Saturday, in which Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and other officials were present, the Union Minister said IT companies which already have their operations in Hyderabad could set up their extension units in ITIR.
The Telangana IT Minister and officials made a power-point presentation on the development of IT sector in Hyderabad, exports and employment opportunities. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to increase the Central assistance to ITIR stating that Rs. 165 crore announced already was inadequate.
Responding to the request, Mr. Prasad asked the Chief Minister to send detailed proposal on the State’s requirements in setting up ITIR. He stated that Hyderabad had already gained recognition as an international IT hub and the Centre was ready to help Telangana in the development of communication and IT sectors further.
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao explained about the new industrial policy unveiled by the State government recently and its plans to announce a new IT policy soon, both aimed at the economic growth of the State.
Further, he mentioned that the National Geographic had recently identified Hyderabad among the top tourist places in the world.
After presenting a copy of the new industrial policy to the Union Minister, Mr. Rao said the State government had already identified certain places for ITIR and the IT companies already operating from Hyderabad were planning to expand their facilities there, which needed the best infrastructure in education and health.
He explained that the State government had already sought an assistance of Rs. 4,863 crore for creation of infrastructure for ITIR, including Rs. 942 crore for phase one and Rs. 3,921 crore for phase two and the Centre had approved support to an extent of Rs. 3,275 crore -- Rs.165 crore in the first phase and Rs. 3,110 crore in the second phase.
