Govt to provide 7 lakh sq ft space to set up IT parks across state

Bengal government is likely to provide spaces amounting to seven lakh square feet available in seventeen Information Technology (IT) parks across the state.

The Information Technology and Electronics department of the state government is leaving no stone unturned to attract IT entrepreneurs to start their ventures in these newly-built spaces. Twelve out of seventeen IT Parks are already in operation, the others parks will be ready by the end of this year.

According to a senior Information Technology department officer, the state is offering the best incentive policies for IT and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS) companies ranging from interest to training subsidies. "Our intension is to create infrastructure before the demand grows up," the officer said.

Bengal, which is aiming to become one of the top three states in IT, ITeS and Hardware Sectors by 2020, has set up IT parks in Siliguri phase I and II, Durgapur, Asansol, Borjora, Rajarhat, Haldia, Kharagpur, Kalyani, Howrah, Purulia, Krishnagar, Bolpur, Malda, Bantala, Taratala and Cooch Behar. Two hardware parks in Sonarpur and Kalyani and two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) will be set up in Naihati and Falta.

"The government will set up an institute of data sciences and a cyber security centre of excellence for protection of data. The government is also keen on a start-up action plan for youth and budding entrepreneurs," the officer added.

The government, however, decided to provide subsidies on capital investment, training, employment generation and quality certification for the IT entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs will also get waivers of electricity expenses and refund of stamp duty and registration fees. "Larger benefits will be given to the big projects," the officer added. It may be mentioned that Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC), a project of the state IT department – promising 37,000 employments, has been initiated in South 24 Parganas' Falta and Naihati of North 24 Parganas. The Falta EMC, which is being constructed on a 58 acre land on the shore of river Hooghly, approximately 27 km away from Haldia Port, has already received the Centre's approval.

"We want to increase the state share in production of electronics goods up to 15 percent by 2020. We have to ensure e-literacy among the masses. Skilled manpower in hardware and disposal of e-waste mechanisms are some areas that we are looking forward to develop," the officer added.