Rao discusses ITIR project with Union IT minister

Minister for Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao here today and discussed the upcoming Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project.
The Union Minister asked the state government to send a detailed proposal for enhanced financial assistance from the Centre for the ITIR project to be developed around the city, as Rao said the Rs 165 crore announced for phase-1 was "inadequate", according to the release from the Chief Minister's Office.
The chief minister briefed Prasad about the ITIR project that would come up in an area of 202 sq km in and around Hyderabad Metropolitan Area and will attract a total investment of Rs 2,19,440 crore over 25 years.

While the state government sought a financial assistance of Rs 4,863 crore from the Centre for creation of external physical infrastructure for the project, the latter agreed to extend only Rs 3,275 crore, including Rs 165 crore for phase-1, the chief minister said.
He said existing IT companies in Hyderabad are willing to expand their activities and needed facilities for education and health in the ITIR.
Rao also explained to Prasad the state's industrial policy brought out recently.

"The Union Minister assured the chief minister that he is always available for any assistance to the state in IT and communications fields," the release added.

Prasad also informed Rao that a separate postal circle for Telangana has been approved and the Chief Post Master General's post has been created.
State IT Minister K T Rama Rao, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and other officials were present at the meeting.