Two more IT parks to be set up in Rajasthan 

The Rajasthan state government plans to set up two more IT parks in the

state. "At present three IT parks in Jaipur, Alwar and Kota are operational

in the state and we plan to add two more such parks, one each in Udaipur and

Jodhpur," revealed a senior official of the state industries department. To

be set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore each, the two parks are expected to be ready

in a year's time.

The state has been encouraged to go in for setting up such parks as IT majors

like Wipro, Patni Computers and Daksh are reported to have shown interest in

setting up their units in different IT parks and the new cyber city coming up

near Jaipur. GE Capital has already announced its intentions to start a call

center investing Rs 60 crore during the first phase in the state. The project

will come up in Jaipur.

It is understood that Mumbai-based Patni Computers is planning to invest Rs

50 crore to set up an IT-enabled services center. Daksh too is contemplating an

investment in the state for similar services and software development.

The state government is currently in talks with other small and big players

to enthuse them into IT enabled services, general software and IT education. To

begin with, these investments are likely to be concentrated in Jaipur. RIICO is

planning to set up a unique cyber city in joint venture with the private sector

at Sitapura near Jaipur. The city, will have a built up area of one million

square feet and is expected to cost Rs 200 crore. The cyber city project once

completed is likely to provide employment to over 20,000 people and attract

investment of around Rs 350 crore in the IT sector. The cyber city will have

built up offices, plots for setting up educational institutions, commercial

establishments, recreational centers and residential premises.

Besides this, RIICO has also decided to set up a new IT park at Matsya

Industrial Area, Alwar. The concessions, among others, include rebate in land

allotment rate. Allotment rate, before rebate, for plot sizes upto 1,000 square

meter is Rs 330 per square meter and for plot sizes of more than 1,000 square

meter is Rs 285 per square meter. The corporation has decided to give a rebate

of upto 60 percent for allotment of land for setting up IT projects.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan government has drawn out plans to boost software exports

from the state. "We have worked out measures for giving a push to software

exports. The measures would be a part of the export policy which is likely to be

announced soon," a senior official of the state industries department said.

He said that the state government has recognized IT as a thrust sector

keeping in view the situational advantage, availability of trained manpower and

basic inputs like high-speed data communication facilities already existing in

the state. "There exist ample scope for the export of software from the

state," he said and added that the steps would be taken to augment the

share of the state in the export of software from the country.

Anil Sharma