Wipro begins land acquisition process in Kolkata

West Bengal's industrialisation drive got a shot in the arm on the new year's day today with IT services major Wipro Technologies paying Rs 18.9 crore as the first instalment towards the cost of land at Rajarhat where it plans to set up its second campus in the state.

Wipro has purchased a 50-acre plot of land at Rajarhat, near the city, at a cost of Rs 75 crore and the entire amount is to be cleared within 90 days of the first instalment, sources in the IT department said.

Wipro was not available for comment.

West Bengal IT minister Debesh Das said it was good that companies had kept faith in the state and were maintaining their commitment.

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji had visited the plot with officials of his company last December after finalising the deal with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The land belongs to the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) and it charged the IT giant close to Rs 1.5 crore per acre.

Premji had said his company would start work in 18 months.

There was no news yet, however, from another IT giant Infosys which was also offered a 50-acre plot of land at Rajarhar to set up a campus.

The state government had in November-December hurriedly offered 50 acres each to Infosys and Wipro at proper Rajarhat township after the proposed IT township project was shelved.