Bangalore: Overwhelmed by the ``pro-active'' government and infrastructure in Hyderabad, Infosys Chief Financial Officer T.V. Mohandas Pai on Monday said, ``It is good that Andhra Pradesh is doing what it is doing because Hyderabad has the best infrastructure for information technology (IT) in India today.''

After an industry meet organised by the Andhra Pradesh Government here, he told presspersons that the roads are good in Hyderabad. "There is a proactive Chief Minister. Many investors are coming in. If you go to Hyderabad, you see a sense of newness as if the city is new. There is a great drive to improve the information technology industry. So, we are excited,'' Mr. Pai said. In contrast, he chose to paint a not-so-rosy picture of Bangalore, known as India's silicon valley. ``Morale of information technology industry in Bangalore is low,'' he said.

Asked if he thought Bangalore was losing out, he said he did not want to think that way, but felt it was India that was gaining.

``It is good to have competition between the States. It is good for us to feel wanted because we had torrid times in Bangalore when people told us that we are not wanted,'' he said.

``It is good that we are wanted (in Hyderabad). At least Hyderabad wants information technology industry. I guess people will go where they are wanted,'' he said.

Mr. Pai said if one looked at the data, one found that in the last two years, companies in Bangalore were investing more outside the city than here.

About five years ago, Bangalore accounted for 65 per cent of the information technology capacity of the country. ``It has come down to 25 per cent. This trend is going to accelerate,'' he said.

He then defended the information technology industry, saying: ``Look, let's admit one thing. We (IT) are the people who invest and create jobs... quality jobs. We are the ones who market. Any place which makes you feel wanted, we will go for expansion (there).''

``What is growing in Karnataka? It is information technology industry," he said. — PTI

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