Pending IT projects to pick up momentum

The proposed information technology (IT) projects of Wipro Technologies, Mumbai-based Raheja Corporation and the Kolkata-based Apeejay Surrendra Group in Orissa, which had suffered delay on account of the prevailing economic downturn, are expected to make headway within two to three months.

While Wipro aimed to set up a software development centre, K Raheja Corporation planned to set up a Mindspace IT Park and Apeejay Surrendra Group intended to establish a knowledge park as well as a research and a design centre.

“The proposed IT projects of Wipro, Raheja Corporation and the Apeejay Surrendra Group which had hit a delay due to the economic recession are expected to gather steam within two to three months. Wipro expected to inaugurate the first tower of its proposed development centre in Bhubaneswar by the end of this month but they are going a bit slow on this project”, a top IT official of the Orissa IT department told Business Standard.

Wipro's development centre in the city had suffered a delay of nearly four months due to the prevailing economic slowdown. The IT heavyweight, which is currently operating out of a rented facility in the city, has taken possession of about 26 acres of land in the Infocity area to set up its full-fledged centre. The company has already completed the construction of one tower, with a capacity to accommodate around 1,000 professionals.

K Raheja Corporation proposed to set up an IT park in the city over an area of 30 acres at an investment of about Rs 250 crore. This IT park would have a total built-up area of 10 lakh sq ft and it was scheduled to be commissioned within three years. The project would generate employment for nearly 20,000 people.

Mindspace IT Park was to be developed jointly with the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation on the public-private partnership mode. K Raheja Corporation had signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Orissa government in May 2008 and the IT park was scheduled to be commissioned within three years.