Infosys has its way; demands on road, water to be met

Infosys has asked the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board to refund the deposit it had paid for land

In the wake of IT major Infosys’ decision to pull out of a proposed software development centre project near here citing lack of infrastructure, the Karnataka government on Tuesday said it would fulfil the company’s demands.

“Infosys has written a letter with certain demands. They have said that the two lanes connectivity from National Highway 7 that is from express highway to airport till Infosys at Devanahalli IT Park should be upgraded to four lanes. They have also asked for water facility,” Karnataka IT Minister S R Patil told reporters here.

“We will fulfill their demands. They are not big demands. Karnataka government is efficient enough to fulfill their demands,” he said. “It (Infosys) was born here and has developed into what it is today, and successive governments in the state have supported the company in its growth.”

Infosys in a regulatory filing on Tuesday had said, “The company has conveyed its intention to surrender the land citing lack of infrastructure.” Further, Infosys has also said this does not in any way affect the operations or performance of the company.

Infosys has also asked the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to refund the deposit for land it has paid. It has taken the step citing lack of infrastructure at the 1,000-acre IT park to pursue its business plans.

The city-based firm had plans to build a development centre on 100 acres at the Devanahalli IT Park. Its main campus at Electronic City has 26,000 seats. Infosys had proposed setting up a 20,000-seat facility at the new campus, according to its original proposal to the government. In June 2010, KIADB allotted 40 acres to Infosys, which requested for an additional 60 acres.