Infy to up headcount by 5,000 in TVM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Infosys has finalized plans for its next phase of operations in Kerala, with the company poised to develop its own campus near the Technopark here.

The state government on Tuesday handed over a 50-acre plot to Infosys to develop its own campus in the state capital, adjacent to the Technopark from where Infosys is already operating.

Infosys president and COO S. Gopalakrishnan told ET that the company would initially develop a 50,000 sq ft facility, that would seat about 5,000 staffers. When that phase is complete, the headcount of the company here would dramatically rise from the present level of about 1,000.

Explaining the company's strategy for the near term in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Gopalakrishnan said the first priority would be to get requisite clearances including
environment and pollution board clearances, after which development of the company's own premises would begin.

"We expect to complete the first phase within about nine months from the time construction begins", Mr Gopalakrishnan said.

Company officials said Infosys would continue to operate out of its existing facilities at Technopark even after the company's own facilities come up in the vicinity. Infosys has also sought space at the 6-lakh sq ft Tejaswini building coming up in the Technopark campus. Tejaswini is expected to be ready in a month's time.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Infosys donated Rs 50 lakh on Tuesday to the Sri Chithra Poor Home here, at a function presided over by chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan.