Infrastructure alarm goes off

Infrastructure alarm goes off
400-member chamber will boycott IT.in
The Times of India

Bangalore: Karnataka’s high-profile annual event Bangalore IT.in 2005 faces yet another major boycott threat, this time from the Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC), which has over 400 members, including 135 IT and ITeS companies. The reason is once again Bangalore’s deteriorating infrastructure.

BCIC president Anant Koppar said: “This collective stand is in the wake of the government’s apathy towards infrastructure woes, particularly in terms of traffic congestion, power shortage and airport infrastructure. The state’s lack of concern has subdued not just the IT industry pace, but has affected all business verticals and the common man.’’

“The Garden City and IT Capital of India will soon be seen as the pothole city of India.’’

The government had been promising adequate measures to address these issues. But all these promises, he said, had turned out to be hollow. Year on year, infrastructure services are seen to have deteriorated in and around Bangalore, the city that has held tremendous technology promise. “Our intention is not to disrupt the event. However, the prevailing situation is real, intense, and certainly demands drastic measures.’’

Earlier, the Bangalore Forum for IT, an organisation of 18 major IT companies, had announced a boycott of this premier event.

Asked to comment, IT secretary Shankarlinge Gowda had this to say: “More than that of the state, IT.in is an industry event. It will only benefit the industry in terms of networking, exposure and business flow. I do not see any logic in a section of the industry resisting such a brand building opportunity.’’