Cognizant, TCS to ramp up Hyderabad ops

Indian software major, TCS, and the US technology company Cognizant are looking at expanding their Hyderabad operations by developing new campuses in addition to their existing workplaces in the city.

Both the companies are expected to sign MoUs with the Andhra Pradesh government this week wherein they will be getting 100 and 40 acres of land respectively at Adibhatla near the new international airport.

TCS, which has already commenced work on the Synergy Park, coming up in 51 acres on the CMC campus here, has announced its plans to ramp up Hyderabad headcount by 10,000 from close to 5,000 professionals currently working. The CMC campus houses 8,000 professionals.

Cognizant too recently inaugurated its own campus in Hitec City with a capacity to house 3,000 professionals.

According to officials in the IT and Communications department, Cognizant is also planning to increase its manpower strength in Hyderabad.

The MoUs with the two companies on the land allotment and other incentives are likely to be inked before GITEX-2007, the annual IT event which begins from January 9, IT department officials said.

According to the recent statement made by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, IT exports from Andhra this year are expected to achieve 45 per cent growth to touch Rs 19,000 crore from Rs 12,521 crore last financial year.

Though the year-on-year growth being projected this time is lower, compared with 51 per cent growth rate during 2005-06, the officials insisted that the growth rate figures arrived on a higher base cannot be interpreted as decrease in momentum of the IT sector's development in the state.