IT&BT Minister S R Patil on Tuesday said Infosys Executive Chairman N R Narayana Murthy had hinted at opening a campus of his company in Hubli-Dharwad.
Patil and his department principal secretary INS Prasad visited Electronics City and the Infosys campus. He met with Murthy and his colleagues. Patil, when contacted by Deccan Herald, said, “I am happy that Murthy has hinted at extending IT activities to Hubli. The company is already in possession of 50 acres of land. In case a campus comes up, it will provide employment to about 10,000 people.”
Patil said like in his case, Murthy’s forefathers belong to Jamakhandi in Bagalkot district. “Love for North Karnataka may make the IT captain establish a campus in Hubli,” he said. Asked when the project would materialise, the minister said Murthy had hinted that he would work towards it soon.
“He said once the work begins, it should not be stalled. We have to ensure that the environment is conducive for the company to function. Once Infosys comes to Hubli, smaller companies will follow. The IT firms, without polluting the environment, are giving jobs to lakhs of people,” he said.
They also discussed ways to develop IT industries in tier-II cities. The IT companies in the State had been contributing about 36 per cent of India’s IT exports. It was the one area where they needed to maintain focus, Murthy said.
Patil said he would visit the Mysore campus of Infosys on July 13. The minister said the government would try to give maximum support to IT sector. The Electronics City has already got an exclusive Authority on the lines of a City Municipal Council to take care of its needs. The government has nominated five members to the Authority, he said.