The Karnataka Government’s proposal for setting up an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) is awaiting the Union Cabinet approval.

According to Mr M.N. Vidya Shankar, Karnataka Secretary for Commerce and Industry, the state is very close to getting a nod for the proposed region that would house IT and biotech companies.

Tender for the first phase will commence once the Cabinet gives its approval.

The project is initiated jointly by the Centre and the state wherein the Centre will take care of connectivity needs by the way of highways and BIAL expansion in the form of a second runway.

Water, power connectivity

The state on its part will develop the layout by offering water and power connectivity.

The State Government has proposed to lay 60 kilometres of water pipeline to supply recycled water. For power requirements, six sub-stations and 65 km of transmission lines have been proposed to be set up at a cost of Rs 281 crore.

Mr Shankar said that the ITIR will come up 44 km from Bangalore and 14 km from BIAL. To make it accessible, a proposal to extend Bangalore Metro Rail is under consideration.

ITIR project

For the development of ITIR, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had announced that it will acquire 2,072 acres for the first phase of this project.

The project is to be completed in two phases and the estimated investment is around Rs 90,000 crore.

Consulting firm Deloitte has sent a detailed project report to the Centre highlighting the project requirements.

A majority of future investment activities and growth lay in growing the ecosystem of IT parks, R&D centres, residential townships and academic institutions like IIIT.

The project, when completed, would generate about 1.1 million direct and2.7 million indirect jobs for the 1.2 million people.

>venkatesh.ganesh@thehindu.co.in

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