Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Infosys seeks land for customer care centre

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI Dec. 5. After losing out on Microsoft and the Bill Gates visit, Tamil Nadu, which still remains a major Information Technology centre, may receive some good tidings. In a significant move that would provide a fillip to the State and provide some hype to its being an IT investment destination, the software giant, Infosys, has expressed its desire to expand its "development and customer care centre" in Chennai.

The move by the software market leader, whose base is still Karnataka despite emerging a global player, could send out strong signals to other IT giants to set up shop in Tamil Nadu. Infosys has asked the State Government to provide 25 to 30 acres of government land to house the centre.

The preferred area indicated by the company is between the TIDEL Park and the existing Infosys set-up on the Old Mahabalipuram Road near Sholinganallur, or on any suitable land, which would be accessible from the Anna International Terminal in less than 30-minutes, indicating the company's handling of large volume of overseas clientele.

"Infosys has even expressed its willingness to acquire even 50 acres, if it is Government-owned", highly-placed official sources said.

The sources confirmed to The Hindu that they are in receipt of an official letter from the company, indicating its desire and calling for early action as it signifies an impetus to the State Government's endeavour to establish Tamil Nadu "destination of choice for IT investments".

According to present indications, the Government is likely to take a decision on the request at a high-level meeting next week.

Quantum jump in operations

Sources at Infosys, Chennai, also confirmed that the company sought land and was expecting a favourable and early response, as it meant a quantum jump in its operations here as well as relocation of some of its facilities.

If the project comes through, the trained workforce will go up from 1,700 to 3,000. Infosys set up its base here in 1996 with 40 employees on rented premises, near Guindy, before moving to the existing office-set-up at OMR in August 2000. Industry sources say the fact that Infosys wants to expand its operations in Chennai could send out a strong signal about Tamil Nadu's "undoubted potential and capacity", pointing to the conclusion at a recent IT seminar here that Tamil Nadu lacked only "marketing" or "showcasing", an area in which its neighbours seem strong. They want the Government to first create the required infrastructure in the `IT corridor', before it is too late.

As a scheme has already been prepared, the authorities will only have to tie up for funding and project implementation.

Given the intense competition among the southern States in the IT sector, Tamil Nadu will have to be "extremely competitive" and offer a "congenial atmosphere to attract top players.

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