IT-BT park in Pantnagar soon

Rs 150-300 crore project to feature state-of-the-art facilities and an SEZ

An integrated IT-BT Park is coming up in the Pantnagar area of the Kumoan region with the state-of-the-art facilities as well as a special economic zone.

Spread over 500 acres, nearly 450 acres of land would be for the biotechnology park while the remaining 50 acres would be provided for the IT park, official sources said here today.

"We are looking for both organic and inorganic growth in this BT-IT park," the official said.

The state government has roped in Ernst and Young as a marketing consultant in the project, which is being built at Rs 150-300 crore. Ernst and Young will scout for companies for investment.

Hyderabad-based Ramky Infra Consulting Pvt Ltd has been given the task of project designing as well as mater-planning. Ramky will also oversee the construction of the park and also basic services required in the area.

Singapore-based Acendas will be the consultant for the IT park. "We will also be creating a special economic zone in this area," the official said.

The Pantnagar project is the second IT park in Uttaranchal. Chief Minister N D Tiwari had laid the foundation stone of an IT park in the Sahasrdhara area in Dehra Dun last month.

The government of Uttaranchal has accorded priority to the biotechnology sector as a new engine to shape the state's growth. Having released the state's Biotechnology Policy in 2004, the government proposes to establish world-class infrastructure in the form of a state-of-the-art biotech park.

The proposed park would endeavour to address the biotech industry's need for specialised infrastructure and thereby encourage new biotech enterprises, drive life sciences research, accelerate commercialisation of new technologies, enable biotech organisations to forge alliances and enhance competitiveness of biotech companies located in the state, the officials said.

Uttaranchal is uniquely positioned to become a favoured destination for biotech investments because it is endowed with a distinctly rich bio-diversity (175 of the 500 species of medicinal plants found in the Indian System of Medicine), availability of quality manpower (72 per cent literacy), a large number of technical institutes (IIT Roorkee, Forest Research Institute, Herbal Research & Development, regional centres of the National Bureau of Plant & Genetic Resources and the Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, etc.) and an expanding base of small-medium sized life sciences companies.

The existing industrial cluster in Pantnagar is home to India's leading food and natural product companies such as Dabur, Britannia and Nestle. With an integrated approach towards promoting Pantnagar's industrial attractiveness, the Government is investing in enhancing the region's social and urban infrastructure, including plans to set up an integrated township with modern housing facilities.

LOGGING ON TO IT

Park spread over 500 acres, of which 450 acres will be for biotechnology park and remaining 50 acres for IT park

Ernst and Young is the marketing consultant for the project

Hyderabad-based Ramky Infra Consulting Pvt Ltd will do project designing and mater-planning

Singapore-based Acendas will be the consultant for IT park