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Chandigarh heading towards becoming major IT Centre

Quality education, medical facilities and a high standard of living have positioned Chandigarh among the best cities of the country

CHANDIGARH: After Bangalore and Hyderabad in South and Gurgaon in North, Union Territory of Chandigarh is heading towards becoming a major Information Technology hub.

The city is in the midst of launching its twin projects of Information Technology Park and Technology Habitat, Director IT Vivek Atray said adding Chandigarh Administration has in anticipation of arrival of IT companies commenced projects to improve the infrastructure and other facilities in the city.

The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for IT in Chandigarh has already been approved by the Union Government and Technology Habitat is being set up in an area of about 600 acres, he said.

It would lead to private sector investment and FDI up to Rs.1,000 crore in the next three years, encourage Public Private Partnership in infrastructure and industry, boost exports and growth of ancillary units providing support services and create 25000 jobs, according to Atray.

Keeping in view the need to attract investment, the Chandigarh Administration has taken a number of major initiatives to upgrade the infrastructure in the Union Territory, officials said.

Chandigarh is emerging as a regional hub in the areas of service industry, education, health, information technology, food and vegetable processing. The Administration is aiming at three areas of Human Development, Infrastructure, and Environment upgradation and protection. The city is also fast emerging as a focal point of quality education and medical facilities. These facilities, along with a high standard of living, have positioned Chandigarh amongst the best cities of the country. It, in fact, ranks first in India in the Human Development index, quality of life and e-readiness.

Establishment of second government hospital for southern sectors of the city and deemed university status for the Government Medical College are high in the priorities of the Administration, an official spokesman said.

Chandigarh Airport, from where flights are available for Delhi, Mumbai and Leh, is among the eight airports being taken up for upgradation.

The efforts of Chandigarh Administration are to ensure that poor sections of the society benefit from e-Governance programme and aims to provide a single window online services in all areas round-the-clock.

A special public-private partnership project envisages setting up of Jan-Sampark kiosks in the city providing information related to health care, government functioning, tourism, economy, transport, helplines, education and emergency services and in the process make the common man tech-savvy.

To cater to the ever-growing transportation needs of the residents of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, the Chandigarh Administration is implementing a Mass Rapid Transit System. Apart from this, a low-loading bus system is being introduced soon in the city.- PTI

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Chandigarh heading towards becoming major IT Centre

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