Karnataka's investment in infrastructure, by far the maximum among all states in the country, reaches a staggering Rs 73,937 crore.

The Government is providing incentives to infrastructural projects:infrastructure projects with investments over Rs 100 crore will be getting special concessions.

Many major projects are coming up in Karnataka.

• Power generation & distribution has increased considerably. The transmission losses has been brought down from 22% to 18%.
• An international airport near Bangalore, a host of other projects shall catapult Karnataka into the limelight.
• An International Convention Centre and the Electronic Trade, Technology Development & Exhibition Centre is proposed to come up shortly.
• A Mega City project for the development of Bangalore with a project outlay of Rs.805 crore
• A world class technology park at Whitefield near Bangalore
• The Bangalore-Mysore Expressway at a cost of Rs.640 crore.
• A 99 km long Elevated Light Rail System at an investment of Rs 4300 crore
• Construction of ring road around Bangalore. The Bangalore-Mysore expressway will make Mysore a satellite city paving way for industrial townships along the expressway.
• Apart from Bangalore many growth centres are planned namely Dharwad, Hassan, Raichur etc. Airstrips are coming up at Hubli, Gulbarga and Mysore to facilitate faster transport.

Karnataka As a Preferred Area of Investment

Karnataka has one of the most congenial industrial environments in the country.

• Labour unrest is few and unheard of.
• Law and order problems are minimal.
• A stable government and good infrastructure.
• Large pool of human resources, aided by the presence of a large number of engineering, medical and other educational institutes.
• A single window clarence system and many other benefits make Karnataka a favourite investment location.

Apart from KUM, the office of the Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries and Commerce, the Visveshwaraiah Council for Technological Upgradation contribute in large measures. In early 1998, a Global Investor's Conference shall be held to boost investment. The single window concept and transparency in the process has assured foreign investors of business benefits.

The two blocks are of 14 and 12 floors, covering a total area of 68,337 sq.mts. The other facilities in Phase I comprise of production block covering 6 floors and area of 35,938 sq.mts. And a ground commericial floor space covering 6454 sq.mts.

ITP can provide employment to over 4,000 people which is over 4,000 people which is expected to increase to over 15,000 people when the entire project is completed. The International Tech Park will house 50+90 residential units which is targeted for completion by August 1999.

The International Tech Park, based on the model of Singapore Science Park seeks to do away with the usual infrastructural hurdles faced by companies in India. The prime concern of any business venture is the availability of power, telecommunication and water, are all available under one roof in the International Tech Park.

A 3x3 mw captive power which has been installed in ITP will serve as a stand by to the 220 Kw power lines from Karnataka Electricity Board, thus ensuring that the offices/production units and residential apartments within the Park never face a power shortage. ITP is also equipped with a 1000-lines dedicated telephone exchange with a provision to upgrade it to 12,000 lines in future. The clients can also be provided immediate data connectivity of any bandwidth from ITP using the VSNL hub located at the Interantion Tech Park. By January 1998, VSNL will commission a 13m antenna for satellite link for its clients at ITP directly from ITP Earth Centre.

Apart from the basic infrastructural amenities, the International Tech Park also provides some value added services like business/office support centres, medical centre, food court, restaurants, recreation and fitness centres.

ITP's target profile includes companies which are in technology oriented industry like Research and Development, Product Design, Information Technology and Software Development; Prototyping, Manufacturing, Industrial Packaging, Technical and Customer Support, Computer/Nerve Centre and/or Data Processing, Sales and Marketing, Industrial Trading, Showroom and other activities that Information Technology Park Ltd. deems fit. However other support function activities like administrative and ancillary offices, employee recreational facility; warehousing/storage facility;technology and business consultancy etc. may also be considered.

According to the CEO, ITPL, Mr. Kang Kok Hin, "We are targetting those companies which can appreciate the world-class amenities provided by the International Technology Park".

The International Tech Park is located in Whitefield, 18 Kms East from the city centre and a mere 12 kms. from the Bangalore airport. The Park is also well linked through the city's extensive network of roads and highways.

The 68 acres project when divided into three phases would include 1,72,000 sq.mts of modern space, 1,35,000 sq.mts. of wide columnar production space and 400 residential units on completion. The first phase is nearing completion with phase II and III scheduled to be completed by the year 2003.

Around 38% of the space at the International Tech Park has been either booked of leased by prominent companies like Siemens Components, Hitachi Asia, TCS, Singapore Technologies, Rotary Engineering, SAP Ag, Sony, Gemplus Technologies, Times Bank etc.

Tech International Tech Park, Bangalore sets a new standard for business facilities in India.

The estimated Rs. 1475 crore project is being developed by a joint venture group concerning, the Tata Industries Ltd., Singapore's Information Technology Park Investments Pvt Ltd., the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.