State to pull all stops to keep Infosys in city

State wakes up to take action after tech-giant withdraws from Devanahalli IT Park where it had planned to set up 20,000-seat facility

Tech giant, Bengaluru-based blue chip company Infosys's decision to pull out of its plan to build a 20,000-seat facility at the Devanahalli IT Park has jolted the state government out of its slumber.

The government came out in full force on Tuesday to make the right noises which promised Infosys, and the other companies, proper facilities to retain them in the city.

Infosys had reportedly asked Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) to refund its deposit for the 40-acre land in the IT Park as the promises made by the state government to build up infrastructure there remained unfulfilled for the past four years.

Infosys was upset that the IT Park near Kempegowda International Airport lacked basic infrastructure like roads and drinking water. The state government woke up and announced on Tuesday that it would convene a meeting with officials of the company to resolve the issue at the earliest.

IT & BT minister, S R Patil, said, “We are committed to providing all basic infrastructures as required by the company. They wanted a four-lane road connecting the national and with the land where their facility is to come up. We will convene a meeting at the earliest to address their grievances and facilitate the investments.”

Infosys had reached an agreement with the state government to invest in the IT Park proposed to be developed in the Devanahalli area. The company had also deposited 20 per cent money with KIADB for the acquisition of 40 acres of land. However, despite investing the money four years ago, the state government did not fulfil its promise on providing infrastructure.

Reacting to the statement of IT & BT minister,Infosys executive vice-president Ramadas Kamath said, “We had written to the KIADB that if infrastructure was not built by March 31, 2013 we would withdraw from investing in Devanahalli area. It is a closed chapter now.” He said if the state government decides now to build the infrastructure it would take two to three years .