With private players not too keen to develop the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Uttarakhand, the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL) is also likely to follow suit.
According to top officials, since the export scenario has still not improved considerably, the corporation is now in favour of establishing a new IT hub in Dehra Dun through the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) route claiming the scope of profitability is much better and also the companies have the option of selling products in the domestic market. SIDCUL is now sending a proposal to the board of approval for de-notifying its Sahastradhara IT-SEZ project. SIDCUL has already put a proposal to this effect before its own board.
SIDCUL has in its kitty nearly 37 acres of land near its Sahastradhara IT Park, which is also still in the process of development here. In this 37 acres area, SIDCUL initially wanted to develop an SEZ. After the downturn in 2008, SIDUCL found it difficult to go ahead with the SEZ plan.
It is also in possession of land at Sitarganj in Kumaon region for similar projects. But the government is yet to take a final decision regarding both Sahastradhara and Sitarganj projects. Parsvanath and other private players have also discarded their SEZ proposals in the state.
“There is an impressive growth of the software exports by the units registered under the STPI. The growth rate is also growing despite the downturn witnessed two years ago. So STPI is far better option now,” said the official.
Uttarakhand, which is lagging behind several states in terms of software exports, can take lead in case STPI concept gets the final nod from the government, the official added.