Software technology parks of India to develop IT Park in Gorakhpur

The IT Park would earmark 20% space for start-ups to promote and encourage start-up ecosystem in the state

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uttar Pradesh Electronics Corporation (UPLC) to set up an IT Park in Gorakhpur.

Under the current phase, IT Parks are also being developed in Meerut, Agra, Kanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

UP IT and Electronics minister Manoj Kumar Pandey said the MoU would facilitate influx of rural BPOs, start-ups and entrepreneurs to the proposed IT Park, which is projected to create 15,000 new employment opportunities.

The IT Park would be developed over 14,500 square meter (3.58 acre) land provided by Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA). STPI would start development work in three months and complete the project within the next 18 months thereon at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

STPI Director Rajnish Agarwal said sectors like industrial engineering, manufacturing, banking and call centre would benefit from IT Parks, which would provide services like high speed data communication, value added services, consultancy etc.

Gorakhpur IT Park would earmark 20% space for start-ups to promote and encourage start-up ecosystem in the state. Besides, STPI would grant 25% reservation to the natives of UP while allocating space at the centre.

The Akhilesh Yadav government had already announced UP IT & Start-up policy 2016 to spur investment in IT/ITeS industry and promoting youth skill development.

Meanwhile, UPLC Managing Director Ajaydeep Singh said the new policy would help the state attract IT/ITeS investment and encourage start-ups flourish in UP.

The policy envisages incentives to start-ups and MSMEs in the form of monthly sustenance allowance, power subsidy, lease rental rebate, electricity duty exemption etc.

An Implementation Unit has been formed to provide single window clearance for smooth implementation of the project. KPMG, one of the four consulting firms, is the Policy Implementation Unit (PIU) partner for UP IT & Start-up policy.