Tuesday 13 October 2015

Developing Amritsar as IT hub a distant dream

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 Developing Amritsar as IT hub a distant dream

Amritsar, October 11

Though the state government had announced to develop Amritsar as information technology hub over three years ago, nothing has been done at the ground level so far to realise the plan. The government allocated land for the purpose at the focal point, but the project failed to take off.

Amritsar as IT hub can be a major game changer for the region as the city is well connected by road, rail and air with various key national and international destinations.

After the request of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to the then Cabinet Minister, Kapil Sibbal, in 2012, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) was allocated to Amritsar.

Over a year-long search for land was over, when an area was demarcated for the STPI at the focal point in the city. An allotment committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary had approved the allocation of 2.72 acre for setting up of the STPI centre at industrial focal point on September 23, 2013. It was also decided that the allotment as well the possession of the land would be handed over by the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) to the STPI immediately. Accordingly possession was given to the STPI in October 2013.

However, around two years have lapsed since the allocation of land, but no concrete work on the ground level has been done thereafter. Top Akali government leaders have repeatedly declared to develop the holy city as the next IT hub of North India after the NCR, Gurgaon, a few years ago.

People who know about the latest developments in political corridors maintain that the SAD-BJP government took much interest in developing Mohali as IT hub than the border city. The Sikh holy city is best suited to be developed as IT hub as it is well linked to Pakistan by road and rail networks. Besides, it is the gateway to the Central Asian countries like Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Notably, these nations are dependent on foreign countries for most of their IT needs.

Industry in Amritsar could be the best IT destination of the country as it has international airport and international bus terminal. Besides being well connected by rail with the rest of the country, the city has four to six lane highways leading to adjoining towns and cities.

News Source : The Tribune India (11 Oct 2015)




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