Though it is in close proximity to two metros, Chennai and Bangalore, the latter an IT capital of the country and the former a fast-developing international IT hub, the temple town of Tirupati in Chittoor district till date has been bereft of any development when it comes to information technology industry though it has a vast potential of being developed into another important IT hub of the country.
Now, with the state getting bifurcated and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, where Tirupati is located getting special packages announced for the development of industries including IT sector, the future of Tirupati as IT hub looks bright.
Even before special package was proposed for development of Seemandhra region including industrial development, proposals for the development of ITIR (Information Technology Investment Region) in Tirupati along with Vizag on the lines of ITIR in Hyderabad were made and subsequently the central government had announced ITIRs for the two cities.
Years ago Tirupati had been sanctioned an IT Special Economic Zone, to be located at about 15 km from the town and near the airport at Renigunta, But for some reason or the other, no IT company has set up shop there though proposals were made. Now that ITIR has been announced, people of Tirupati are hopeful of a future investments by big companies for the IT sector development in the temple town which will be a blessing for students from numerous engineering and technology colleges that have come up in the region in recent years.
A few months ago, officials from the department of information technology (government of India) visited Chittoor district to identify suitable locations for ITIR. They visited the Yerpedu-Mannavaram stretch and also the Bhakarapet-Vayalpadu area. After involving the officials from several departments including revenue, Transco, irrigation and forest along with a consultancy agency, the DIT officials also took stock of the availability of lands and other facilities like electricity, water and transport, and sought feedback from the officials.
According to sources, the feedback was given by the officials concerned to DIT through the state government. Though, initially, everyone thought that ITIR would be developed around Yerpedu, it is learnt that the proposals submitted to the DTI recommended development of Tirupati ITIR as a two-corridor project, with one corridor extending to the east and the other to the west and Tirupati acting as the central hub.
The eastern corridor with Yerpedu as nodal point would be viable for the development of IT and ITES industry in eastern parts of Chittoor and also parts of Nellore and Kadapa. On the other hand, the western corridor with Vyalapadu as the nodal point could develop western parts of Chittoor district with parts of Anantapur and Kadapa district as well. Tirupati would be the central hub of the entire ITIR, sources said.
“Our intention is to develop IT industry in most parts of Rayalaseema region and accordingly we had made suggestions to DIT for developing ITIR as two corridor project with Tirupati as its central hub,’’ explained an official involved with drafting of the feedback to DIT.
If all goes well, he said, it will not take much time for Tirupati to emerge as an important IT hub in the country, given that the town is located in proximity to two metros, is well connected by road, rail, air and even sea, with Krishnapatnam port about a 100 km away. When it comes to trained human resource for the sector, it is very much available in Tirupati and other surrounding towns with several engineering and management colleges churning out hundreds of skilled manpower every year. Education and health wise, Tirupati is already set on the path of development.
With Tirupati also in contention for the capital city of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, one is expecting more development in offing for the IT sector in the capital. Even if Tiruapti does not become a capital, any government that comes to power, cannot overlook the development of IT sector in Tirupati, given its strategic importance.