Cognizant to put in over $500 million in 4 yrs to expand India ops

"Cognizant will invest more than USD 500 million through the end of 2014 to expand its owned campus footprint with the addition of over eight million square feet, which will have the capacity to house over 55,000 employees," Cognizant said in a statement.

The programme will create additional software development and training facilities in regions designated as Special Economic Zones in Chennai, Pune, Coimbatore and Kolkata, it added.

In addition to the construction of owned facilities, Cognizant, which at present has nearly 75 per cent of its total employees based in India, will continue to actively lease additional facilities throughout India to meet its future staffing requirements, it said.

"This current real estate expansion program is part of our ongoing strategy of investing in our people, processes, systems, and infrastructure to support our long-term growth," Cognizant Chief Financial and Operating Officer Gordon Coburn said.