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Bangalore announces more sops for software industry

There have been reports of a flight of capital from Bangalore to fast-gaining competition from the cities of Madras and Hyderabad.

At a recent function, conducted by the State Department of Electronics and the Electronic City Association, several investor-friendly incentives were

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unveiled.

They include allotment of lands in the second phase of electronic city and laying of the foundation stone for a multi-facility complex on a 1.5-acre plot. There are plans for building a conference hall, a hospital, a fire station and a police station, the launching of helicopter services for CEOs, buses for employees and the creation of a special security zone among other facilities.

Solar lighting arrangements for the entire city and a satellite township on the southern side were also proposed.

Claiming that there is no flight of capital from Karnataka, N Viswanathan, principal secretary, commerce and industries, assured Bangalore would remain India's Silicon Valley for another three decades.

Emphasising that Karnataka retains its pre-eminent position, he said the state attracted 45 software companies last year when compared to around eight or nine in Madras and 14 in Hyderabad.

Noting that Bangalore contributes 30 per cent of the country's hardware and software production, Viswanathan said the state is now aiming to increase its share to 50 per cent.

Karnataka has set a software export target of Rs 50 billion by the turn of the century and Rs 100 billion by 2002.

Besides these, software exports from the City touched Rs 20 billion during 1997-98 as compared to Rs 12 billion during 1996-97.

 - Compiled from the Indian media

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