Date:17/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031751681500.htm

Back Good response to Tirunelveli IT SEZ

Our Bureau

Chennai, March 16 The 400-acre IT SEZ at Gangaikondan, near Tirunelveli, has evoked encouraging response from the industry. Companies such as Hexaware, US Technologies and Sutherland, have asked for land. About 150 acres are ready to be filled-in immediately. The State Government plans to build social infrastructure on a large portion of the remaining land, according to Dr C. Chandramouli, IT Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Selling the southern districts of Tamil Nadu has been at the top of the Government’s agenda, which strives to take the IT industry throughout the State. Despite having hundreds of engineering colleges and proximity to three airports (Tuticorin, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram), getting IT companies to go the districts had been a problem.

Madurai plan

But now, the problem is as good as solved. “Madurai is full and Tirunelveli will soon be,” Dr Chandramouli said. The Government has planned two IT SEZs at Madurai.

The other SEZ is near the Madurai Kamaraj University and is spread over 200 acres. Both of these are sold out. HCL, Honeywell, Satyam, Sintel, Tessolve and Sutherland are among those who have bought lands there.

Dr Chandramouli reckons that once SEZs in the southern districts get populated by IT companies, it would not be too difficult to sell those in other regions. Tiruchi and Salem are next on the list.