West Bengal information technology (IT) department has invited bids for a Rs 200-crore project in Salt Lake Sector V, the IT hub of Kolkata, the first IT project after the Vedic Village scam.
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) on Wednesday floated an expression of interest (EOI) requesting proposals for development and operation of twin tower IT park in Sector V.
Confirming the development, Debesh Das, West Bengal IT minister, said, “We have invited bids for a twin tower IT park in Salt Lake Sector V. The project cost is estimated at Rs 200 crore. This will be a built over 3 acres owned by STPI.”
STPI and Webel, the nodal agency for the government of West Bengal, have invited developers who have developed similar buildings or spaces to be a joint developer with STPI and Webel in this initiative under public-private-partnership (PPP) model.
“The project cost and profits will be shared between STPI, Webel and the Bengal IT department,” Das said.
In last three years, the employment in IT sector at West Bengal has increased almost 2.5 times compared to what it was in 2006. About 90,000 people work in IT sector in the state. Earlier, the Bengal government had 171 acres allotted to IT and IT infrastructure companies at Sector V of Salt lake and 10 acres for DLF at Rajarhat. Now, the IT department has about 300 acres at Rajarhat New Town already allotted to IT and IT infrastruture companies which include TCS, Unitech, DLF, RMZ, Shapporji Paloonji, and others. Moreover, the state IT department has 130 acres at Bantala and 10 acres at Nonadanga.
Among the major projects are : Ambuja Realty that inaugurated the first phase of its ‘Ecospace’ business park in Kolkata, for an investment of Rs 290 crore.For the first phase, the company would invest Rs 180 crore, including the cost of land.
The project built on 10 acres in New Town is expected to generate employment for 10,000 people once completed. Ecospace is a 20-acre project, of which Ambuja is constructing 10 acres and the rest is being readied by RMZ of Bangalore. The major companies that have already sought space in the project are HDFC Bank, Acclaris, Calcom Cement and Thyssenkrupp among others.
Industry observers however said,supply of built-up space in and around Kolkata outstripped the demand.
