Work on Infosys' Rajarhat centre to start in six months

"We will start in six month’s time. Once it is completed, 15,000 to 20,000 people can be accommodated (as employees) at the centre. This project is very important for Infosys," Gopalakrishnan told mediapersons after meeting Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and IT Minister Debesh Das.

This is the IT giant’s first facility in West Bengal, which has now attracted all big names in the sector. Wipro, Tata Consultancy service and IBM are the other companies which have already set up base here.

Gopalakrishnan said setting up a development centre here was on the radar of his company for quite some time. “The talent pool here is so good that most of those working in our facilites in Pune, Hyderabad or Bangalore are from this region. We have come to Kolkata because we can’t expect everybody to come to Bangalore, Hyderabad or Pune.”

Seeking cooperation from all, the Infosys chairman exuded confidence that there would be no problem with regard to the anti-land acquisition agitation being spearheaded by opposition political parties.

“We are not involved in politics. We are only involved in creating jobs, creating wealth,” he said.

The company has signed an agreement with the state government agency West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation for setting up the centre on a 50-acre plot at Rajarhat’s New Town.

Infosys has agreed to pay Rs.75 crore for the plot, which was close to the site given to Wipro.