Telangana government to take IT to smaller cities

HYDERABAD: More cities and towns are finding their place on the IT map of Telangana. Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Huzurabad and Jangaon have already made it to the list, and Khammam will follow suit soon. In united Andhra Pradesh, the operations of the IT industry were confined, to a large extent, solely to Hyderabad. However, since bifurcation, the TRS government has focused on expanding the state’s IT base. A new IT policy was launched in 2016, offering incentives such as tax exemptions, and subsidies such as low-cost electricity costs to IT firms willing to set up their base in the districts of Telangana.

Responding to the government’s call, firms have begun foraying into tier-2 cities and towns. Cyient Limited, which is headed by B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, the former chairman of Nasscom, has established a Centre of Excellence in Warangal, to help its communications business expand operations. Mr B.V.R. Mohan Reddy says, “Limiting the benefits of new age businesses to mega metro cities deprives tier-2 cities and towns of the fruits of globalisation. In addition, tier-2 towns provide a large pool of qualified resources, at a lower cost. If we can further improve the social infrastructure, these towns will become more attractive. Cyient as a company believes in inclusiveness and diversity.”

USA-based Eclat Health Solutions has established a centre in Karimnagar after inking a pact with the Telangana Government during IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao's visit to the USA. Kakatiya Sandbox, a hub for social innovation, has been set up in Nizamabad. Over 150 student projects have been implemented within the first year of its establishment. Mr K.T. Rama Rao has maintained all along that the government wants the IT industry to expand beyond Hyderabad, to create more job opportunities. Jayesh Ranjan, the Secretary of the IT department says that Khammam will soon be added to the IT map of Telangana.