After chappals, Kolhapur now steps into IT shoes
The city and its surroundings have traditionally been recognised for churning out capability.
By TNN |
PUNE: KOLHAPUR is more than just a home to the ‘chappals’, macho wrestlers and the spicy mutton curry. It is a thriving industrial town, with over 480 foundries, a significant textile and silver smithy centre and is now being positioned as an IT and educational destination. The state government, which is aggressively promoting tier II and III cities, after the over-heated realty markets of Mumbai and Pune, is projecting Kolhapur as an IT destination. The city and its surroundings have traditionally been recognised for churning out capability.
“The Hinjewadi IT Park at Pune is saturated and, this is the right time for Kolhapur to emerge as the next IT destination in the state. We have a pragmatic IT policy and this will help us garner more investments. Every week, I sign new MoUs with investors,” state chief minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh said. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘IT advantage Kolhapur’. Around 90 software companies were present at the event organised by public and private entities from Kolhapur.
Among the projects, which are coming up in the Kolhapur area, is a Rs 5,000 crore Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) project at Kagal, with FDI accounting for Rs 3,000 crore. The Kagal MIDC project is expected to be completed by 2008 and the estimated employment potential will be close to 25,000 people.
“Of the 1,089 hectares land allotted to this project, 101 hectares will be reserved for the textile industry, 70 hectares for the silver ornament industry and the rest for others. Companies such as Indo Count have invested Rs 154 crore, Raymond has invested Rs 300 crore, Vardhaman has invested Rs 151 crore, Kirloskar Oil Engines has invested Rs 400 crore among others,” said Yogesh Kulkarni, vice-chairman, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), south Maharashtra zonal council.
“The Hinjewadi IT Park at Pune is saturated and, this is the right time for Kolhapur to emerge as the next IT destination in the state. We have a pragmatic IT policy and this will help us garner more investments. Every week, I sign new MoUs with investors,” state chief minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh said. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘IT advantage Kolhapur’. Around 90 software companies were present at the event organised by public and private entities from Kolhapur.
Among the projects, which are coming up in the Kolhapur area, is a Rs 5,000 crore Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) project at Kagal, with FDI accounting for Rs 3,000 crore. The Kagal MIDC project is expected to be completed by 2008 and the estimated employment potential will be close to 25,000 people.
“Of the 1,089 hectares land allotted to this project, 101 hectares will be reserved for the textile industry, 70 hectares for the silver ornament industry and the rest for others. Companies such as Indo Count have invested Rs 154 crore, Raymond has invested Rs 300 crore, Vardhaman has invested Rs 151 crore, Kirloskar Oil Engines has invested Rs 400 crore among others,” said Yogesh Kulkarni, vice-chairman, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), south Maharashtra zonal council.
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