Coimbatore: The city is on the cusp of a major tech boost, as its information technology infrastructure is set to grow manifold in the coming days.Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), one of the pioneers in establishing IT infrastructure in Coimbatore, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government in the recently concluded Global Investors Meet (GIM) for setting up a ‘knowledge centre’ in the city at a cost of ₹275 crore. “The project will provide a conducive environment for global players to set up workspaces and research and development centres, which might create direct employment for 6,000 and indirect employment for 2,000,” according to KCT.KGISL Infrastructures, another leading player in the sector, has signed an MoU during GIM for an even bigger investment of ₹1,000 crore to create a world-class IT park to cater to the existing as well as new customers of KGISL Special Economic Zone.This is in addition to the IT parks being built by KPR Group, L&T and Rathinam Institutions. The four-storeyed KPR Tech Park near the city airport, offering a built-up area of around two lakh sqft, is expected to be ready in the next few months. Construction of the L&T Tech Park has also begun on L&T bypass road near Karpagam College.According to R Maheshwaran, vice-president, finance and infrastructure, KGISL Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, the existing KGISL Tech Park accounts for about 70% of the total exports of Coimbatore IT sector. “The new venture is expected to increase exports by 25%. While the existing tech park has created 50,000 employment since its inception in 2009, the new venture will create an additional 15,000 employment and generate an estimated annual turnover of Rs10,000-Rs12,000 crore.”An official source with KCT Tech told TOI that the upcoming facility to be established in the next three years on four lakh sqft of space was anticipated to provide direct employment to 6,000 people and indirect employment to another 2,000. “The existing KCT Tech park, established in 2008 on 2.4 lakh sqft, accommodates eight MNCs, offering employment to about 2,500 people. The current annual turnabout is approximately Rs500 crore.”The growing IT infrastructure in Coimbatore is a sign that the city is emerging as a most sought-after IT destination, say experts.They pointed out that not only newer companies, particularly from places such as Chennai, were viewing Coimbatore as a right alternative in the post flood scenario, but existing players were also on an expansion mode. “Coimbatore meets all the requirements for an IT sector and it’s the reason for this growing demand,” said Maheswaran.
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