Tech Mahindra to double its capacity at Bhubaneswar campus

The IT services company will have close to 2,000 people working at the campus

IT services company, Tech Mahindra plans to double its capacity at the city campus in next one year, said a top company official.

"We are doubling its (the campus) capacity. Very soon we will have close to 2000 people working here. Presently, the capacity is about 1000", Vineet Nayyar, Executive Vice-Chairman, Tech Mahindra told media persons on the sidelines of a seminar 'Advantage Odisha 2015: Driving Inclusive Growth' here.

It may be noted, among the top IT players in the state, Infosys' Bhubaneswar development centre, located in Infocity, has the largest headcount of about 5000.

In December last year, Tech Mahindra had inaugurated a new block at its city campus to house 615 more IT professionals taking the total capacity in the state to 1,111. The new block was built at a cost of Rs 55 crore.

The present campus of the IT major is spread over six acres of land.On the company's plan of establishment new campus, he said, "As soon as we will fill this (the existing campus) we will plan for a second campus".

C P Gurnani, chief executive officer and managing director of Tech Mahindra during his visit to the state earlier had revealed that the company's proposed to invest Rs 500 crore in Odisha over next five to seven years. Speaking at the seminar, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, "The IT (information technology) sector is at the top of the state government's agenda and Odisha is at the forefront of the IT revolution in the country."

The IT exports for 2013-14 has touched Rs 2400 crore. The growth rate of IT exports from the state is more than the national growth rate for last many years. The state government has brought out a new ICT Policy in 2014, to make Odisha a preferred destination for IT/ITTes /ESDM (Electronic System Design & Manufacturing) companies.

Target has been set to achieve gross ICT turnover of $ four billion, provide direct employment to 60, 000 IT professionals, attract 10 leading IT/ITES and five leading ESDM companies to the state.

Mentioning that the state government is also giving thrust to incubation facility for the entrepreneurs, Patnaik said, focus will be not only on the software exports but also on the product development in the next few years under ESDM sector to achieve the goal of "Make In India" programme.

A characterisation lab is being set up for providing the testing facility to the electronic chip designers in the state.

All possible steps to provide adequate infrastructure to develop an ecosystem for the IT sector are being taken by the state government including better air connectivity to Bhubaneswar to promote Odisha as the Gateway of Eastern India, he added.