Infocity to build second IT tower at Gandhinagar

The Rs 100 crore project to be completed in the next two years

Creative Infocity Ltd will construct its second information technology tower at Gandhinagar with an investment of Rs 100 crore. Work on the tower is expected to be completed within the next two years.

"Most of the offices in the first information technology tower have been sold. Most of the occupants have set up shops there. We have now decided to commence work on the second tower. We have one lakh square feet of affordable space available in the tower, which would cater to domestic BPO firms and start-ups," said Dilip Barot, chief executive officer, Creative Infocity.

PricewaterhouseCooper had submitted a report on the feasibility of constructing an information technology tower at Gandhinagar in 1998. Subsequently, the project was awarded to Florida-based Creative IT Inc. through global tender on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

Creative Infocity is a special purpose vehicle floated as a joint venture between Creative IT Inc and the Gujarat Informatics Ltd, the nodal agency set up by the state government for implementation of its information technology policy initiatives and development of IT in Gujarat.

Creative Infocity was formed to conceptualise, develop and maintain the Infocity project.

The first tower has been completed and offices in it have been sold off to over 22 information technology companies, which are expected to commence their operations soon.

At present, six call centres, two business process outsourcing companies and two IT research and development companies are functional at the first Infotower.

Infocity is the only IT park in India that provides built-up space with residential units, clubhouses and lifestyle and educational facilities all under one roof.

It has been designed and managed to support information technology-enabled services and BPO businesses.

"We have focused on inviting foreign IT and BPO companies to set up their operations in the Infocity campus. This in turn will generate immense employment opportunities for the youth in Gujarat. Infocity is attracting companies which can leverage Gujarat's talent pool in accounting, pharmaceuticals, financial, engineering and manufacturing industries," said Barot.

Technical support to the IT and BPO companies at the Infocity is provided by a number of major telecommunication companies.

The centre also has BSNL's digital telephone exchange, higher structured cabling for voice and data and a centrally managed and operated network operation centre.

Infocity provides its customers independence in terms of scaling up of operations and total turnkey solution at 20 per cent cheaper costs, redundancy and options in terms of both media and service providers for bandwidth, support in technology selection, integration, staffing and recruiting of employees.

IT units at Infocity would be eligible to various incentives as announced by the state government in its IT policy.