Chandigarh, July 15
Logging on to a programme of development works in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today removed all apprehensions in the minds of Information Technology (IT) giants by declaring that the state government would soon invest Rs 200 crore for the infrastructural growth and development of Mohali.
Addressing a gathering of IT honchos and bureaucrats from all over the country for a two-day mega conclave on IT, the Chief Minister this morning said the intention was to develop Mohali as a hub of IT industry on the pattern of Bangalore and Hyderabad.
For attracting the youngsters to the IT sector here, the right kind of atmosphere with pubs and entertainment facilities, including multiplexes, would be provided, he said.
He also claimed that a world-class ring road was being developed around Ludhiana in collaboration with a Dubai-based construction company. A housing complex too was in the pipeline with the help of a Malaysian firm.
Promising better connectivity, he said they were in touch with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for an airport at Phillaur as there was a massive movement to and fro from the Doaba region.
“As far as Amritsar airport is concerned, some bureaucratic hurdles are yet to be removed. As of now, the travellers have to wait under the mango tree as there is no terminus building,” he said.
Listing out the incentives to the IT companies, he said there would be unlimited bandwidth with optical fibre connectivity, no entry tax, no electricity duty for five years, no power cuts and self certification under the Factories Act to name a few.
Making a presentation during the conclave, he
said the state was all set to lead the country in the information and bio-technology revolution in the near future as it had a tremendous potential for industrial growth backed by the investor-friendly policies and congenial investment climate in the state.
Giving details of his recent visit to Hyderabad and Chennai to woo major investments in the IT sector in Punjab, the Chief Minister said he had a series of meetings with representatives of top IT companies, including GE Capital, Satyam and Computer Associates.
He said his visit had been fruitful as seven eminent IT houses had evinced keen interest in setting up their ventures in Mohali and other parts of the state while eight to 10 companies were in the advanced stage of negotiations to make a foray in the IT sector in the state.
Following his visit to Bangalore last year, renowned companies like TCS, Wipro, HCL and Infosys were persuaded to set up their units at Mohali. Dell and Quark are already here. Besides, Punjab info-tech — a nodal agency for IT and Electronic Industry — has been set up and a special mechanism for fast-track clearance of mega projects was in place.
He said they were now taking constructive measures to bring about power reforms. Quoting examples, he said Phase-II of the Lehra Mohabat plant, with a capacity of 500 MW, would go for power generation next year. Probably, this was the first unit set up in the state after a gap of 11 years.
Similarly, efforts were afoot to tap the sources of gas-based power potential. Negotiations were on to set up a 1800-MW gas-based plant in the state in collaboration with the Canadian firm in the private sector, besides another project in collaboration with province of Saskatoon as GAIL was back-tracking on this count. Besides this, gas-based power plants were being set up in collaboration with Saudi Arabia. He reiterated his firm commitment that the state government would provide excellent infrastructure to the prospective entrepreneurs and investors.
Capt Amarinder Singh justified his visit to Dubai by saying that he had learnt so much from it. “All the time I was exploring business possibilities,” he said.
He said companies in the UAE too had been invited to invest in Punjab in the IT sector. “We are offering them space in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda.” He added that countries like Dubai believed in future planning. That’s why they were reconstructing the airport for accommodating the heavy rush. “We too should follow the pattern,” he said.
