It’s raining land in and around B’lore

It’s raining land in and around B’lore
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: No land in Bangalore? Just listen to this. As many as 77 companies (IT and non-IT) have acquired almost 150 acres in Bommasandra/Jigni Link Road Industrial Area in the last one month.

Companies like Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt.Ltd., Cipla, Sigma Aldrich Chemicals, Rico Auto Industry, Zenbrain Software Technologies, Micro Labs Ltd. have already grabbed most of the land. The remaining 30-40 acres is in the process of being sold in the next few weeks. And to think that only last week, IT majors were blaming the lack of land in the City along with bad roads and infrastructure for their migration.

Reacting to the industry’s allegations about the Government’s lack of planning in providing land for expansion, Industries Minister P.G.R.Sindhia said: ‘‘They may say what they want to but the facts speak for themselves..’’ And Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board CEO Harish Gowda said: ‘‘A whopping 1,400 acres will be available in four months to meet the requirements of IT and IT-related sectors as well as to Foreign Direct Investors.’’

It was totally incorrect to say that companies like Infosys and Wipro have been refused land in Bangalore, he said. ‘‘If they have set up operations in Mangalore, Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad, it is because their business demands it and not because of non-availability of land in Bangalore.’’

He said that the Export Promotion Industrial Park which is full, is being extended to include 250 acres while 650 acres are being acquired near Electronic City Phase I. Some 250 acres are being added to Electronic City Phase II and a new Industrial Area is being developed beyond Bidadi at Harohalli which will include 250 acres.

So, what was IT industry’s grouch against land all about?