Chandigarh pitches for a place on domestic IT map

BANGALORE: After being left behind by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other “tech states�, the Union Territory of Chandigarh is getting proactive in attracting IT investment.

This region, which had no IT policy just two years ago, has moved rapidly to promote itself as a premier IT and IT enabled services (ITES) destination.

As part of this move, the Union territory’s administrator, JFR Jacob, visited Bangalore IT.COM last week to hold talks with several technology companies. Vivek Atray, director, IT and public relations for the Chandigarh administration, said several technology firms had expressed a keen desire to invest in the state.

He said Chandigarh remained a contender for GE Capital’s fifth location in India. The Department of IT, Chandigarh, will also set up an entrepreneur development centre in collaboration with STPI at the upcoming Chandigarh Tech Park. Jones Lang LaSalle India are the consultants for this project.

The Chandigarh administration is also looking to develop its physical infrastructure, including its roads and transportation system, Mr Atray said. It has an airport, albeit a domestic one only, which connects the region to Mumbai and Delhi among other cities.

However, its proximity to Delhi and Amritsar (both of which have international airports), has prevented major air traffic in this region. Mr Atray claimed Rs 30 crore to develop its infrastructure.

A recent Gartner report had put the Union territory at No 1 for quality of life and PCI. The territory’s administration is looking to leverage these statistics to attract leading IT firms.

A part of the problem for Chandigarh is that Mohali next door and Delhi and Gurgaon have for years attracted most of the investment in North India. Quark had for instance promised a Rs 500-crore investment to Gurgaon.

However, Mr Atray said with Gurgaon struggling to provide network grade power to firms, especially in the ITES field, Chandigarh had come as a suitable alternative.