DLF to begin work on Rs 1,000-cr Infopark project by April

Ending months of uncertainty over the fate of its Rs 1,000 crore Infopark project in the city, DLF, India's biggest real estate developer, looks all set to start construction work of the project by April 1 this year.

“We had a recent review meeting on the status of DLF's Infopark project with the company's executive director. The real estate player is committed to kick off work on its Infopark project by April 1 this year”, said Pradipta K Mohapatra, the state IT secretary.

DLF has sought some changes in the contour of the project to be developed over 54 acres near Infocity region of the city. It is keen on setting aside a greater area for non-processing facilities like shopping malls and multiplexes.

“DLF has given us a revised proposal, seeking a greater area for non-processing facilities in its Infopark and we are examining the same”, he said.

Mohapatra was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the JSS Software Technology Park, the first software technology park of the state.

DLF is understood to have resumed negotiations with a host of IT players- both large as well as the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for offering its IT workspace to them.

It may be noted that DLF's Infopark project in Bhubaneswar was under a cloud of uncertainty after the real estate player had sought denotification of its four IT SEZs (Special Economic Zones) in the country including the one in the city.

It had gone slow on construction work due to the slackening demand for IT projects in the backdrop of the economic downturn.

The DLF Infopark project will be developed in three phases and it comprises an IT block, a luxury hotel, a retail chain, service apartments and recreational facilities with a total built-up space of about 5.5 million sq ft.

For setting up the luxury hotel, DLF had tied up with Hilton, an international hotel chain.

In the first phase, DLF had committed an investment of Rs 300 crore for developing an IT workspace of international standards with a built-up area of 5.7 lakh sq ft.

The first phase was scheduled to be operational within eighteen months to two years after commencement of construction work.

The Infopark project was to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 40,000 people in sectors like IT and ITes (IT enabled services), retail and hospitality.