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