Karnataka govt to develop IT parks in Belgaum, Mysore, Mangalore

In an effort to decongest Bangalore city and promote the information technology sector in secondary cities, the Karnataka government has chalked out plans to set up IT parks in Belgaum, Mysore and Mangalore. The government has intends to develop these parks on a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, a senior government official said.

"We have come out with a proposal to develop IT parks in these cities, where there is immense scope to promote IT industry. The Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keonics) has in its possession land in Mysore and Mangalore already. We are looking for a suitable land in Belgaum and we wish to set up IT parks on the model of ITPL in Bangalore, in these places," I S N Prasad, principal secretary, department of IT, BT and science and technology, told Business Standard.

He said, the department would invest an estimated Rs 60 crore to Rs 70 crore on each of these parks and is also looking for private sector companies to partner the government.

Each of these IT parks will have a minimum area of 100,000 sq ft and accommodate IT companies, Prasad said after the meeting between S R Patil, minister for IT, BT and science and technology, and U R Rao, former chairman of ISRO, and chairman of Karnataka Science and Technology Academy (KSTA).

At the meeting, Patil sought Rao's advice on implementing science and technology projects in the state.

Though it was a courtesy call, he discussed topics ranging from nano technology to establishment of IIT and semiconductor corridor in the state. They decided to meet at regular intervals to discuss how the state could be developed into a hub of science and research field.

Later, Patil reviewed development schemes with the heads of Karnataka Biotechnology Information Technology Services (KBITS), Keonics, Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) coming under his ministry.

Prasad said, IT parks are already functioning in Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Shimoga. There were 25 IT companies in Mysore and they were exporting software worth Rs 1,633 crore. A Rs 975 crore of export revenues were generated from 17 IT companies at Mangalore IT Park. As many as 12 IT units in Hubli were able to generate about Rs 15 crore export revenue, he added.

Patil directed the officials to find suitable land at Belgaum and other cities for development of IT parks. He also asked the officials to rejuvenate IT park in Hubli.

The minister is scheduled to pay visit to IT Park at Electronic City on Tuesday.