MYSORE: Marking a major milestone in the evolution of Mysore into a information technology (IT) centre, the software exports from the City of Palaces grew by a whopping 94 per cent to reach Rs. 760 crore during the financial year 2006-07, displacing Mangalore from the second position in the State.

While software exports from Mysore went up from Rs. 392 crore to Rs. 760 crore, Mangalore's exports grew by 21 per cent from Rs. 570 crore to reach Rs. 681 crore during the financial year.

Ever since IT firms began operations in Mysore in the late nineties, the city was trailing behind Mangalore.

Growth

Speaking to The Hindu in Mysore, Director of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Mysore, J. Parthasarathy attributed the robust growth of the IT sector in the city to major contributions from Infosys and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), besides Software Paradigms India and ICAD. Eight new IT companies began their operations in Mysore last year, taking their total number to 48.

"However, the major contribution to the software export figure from Mysore came from Infosys and L&T," he said. Painting a rosy future for Mysore in the IT sector, Mr. Parthasarathy said the Government had recently handed over 21 acres of land on the outskirts of the city to Target India, a US-based multinational company, which is scheduled to start operations shortly.

The operations of Target Corporation in Mysore is expected to make a significant difference to the IT industry in the city. Tata Consultancy is also scheduled to launch operations in Mysore soon.

Knowledge City

Mr. Parthasarathy said that Mysore was emerging as "twin city" of Bangalore by attracting a large number of IT companies, particularly after the travel time between the two cities was reduced with the widened highway. The proposed Knowledge City at Bidadi is expected to give a further push to Mysore's prospects in the IT sector. However, he made out a case for the early launch of air services from Mysore, besides starting high-speed trains between Mysore and Bangalore.

According to sources in the STPI office in Mysore, as many as 15 new software companies are expected to start functioning from Mysore during the coming year, taking the total strength of IT companies in the city to 63.

Reason

"The number of inquiries has increased during the last few months," the sources said. "The infrastructure problems in Bangalore are driving many potential investors in the IT sector to Mysore. Several inquiries may actually materialise, given the interest shown by the investors in Mysore," the sources added.

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