IT major Cognizant is planning to expand its operations in Bengal. The company has started work on the second phase of expansion at its Bantala campus, nearly 20 km from Kolkata.
The second phase of the campus will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. The property will have over 5,50,000 sq feet of constructed space and is expected to employ nearly 5,000 people.
“We are committed to growing our operations in Kolkata and tap into the world class talent the State has to offer,” Mr R. Chandrasekaran, President and Managing Director, Global Delivery, Cognizant, said following a ground-breaking (bhoomi puja) ceremony here on Friday.
The first phase of the unit, built at an estimated cost of another Rs 200 crore, has received a LEED green building certification from the Indian Green Building Council. It accommodates other 4,000-odd professionals.
According to a company official, the Bantala centre - located at the Bantala special economic zone (SEZ) – will be developed in three phases over a 20-acre stretch of land. The facility is expected to employ around 16,000 people when completed.
The IT major has two self-owned and six leased facilities in the city. From its centres in Kolkata, Cognizant provides consulting, enterprise applications, IT infrastructure and business process services to its global clients in banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, communication, information, media and entertainment.