VTU Chancellor views on reservation

Bangalore is far from saturated: NASSCOM chief

Staff Correspondent

`Infrastructure hassles can be overcome by fast-paced development work'

Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad cited among cities that can attract IT investment
Need for `e-enabling graduates' stressed to make them employable by the industry


MYSORE: Claiming that the information technology (IT) hub, Bangalore, is far from saturated, NASSCOM chief Kiran Karnik has expressed confidence that the infrastructure inadequacies plaguing the city can be overcome by fast-paced development work.

Addressing a satellite-based press conference from SDM College of Engineering in Dharwad on Saturday after participating in the IT Investors' Meet at Hubli, Mr. Karnik told presspersons gathered at Visvesvaraya Technological University's (VTU) Edusat studios across the State that Bangalore would not cease to grow as a global IT destination despite infrastructure hassles.

Fast-paced development


"The infrastructure problems can be overcome by taking up fast-paced developmental work. Even if the infrastructure-building activity cannot be carried out at the pace in which it is done in some western cities, at least we can do it as fast as is done
in China," Mr. Karnik said.

He was responding to a question on Bangalore's future as an IT destination and the possibility of it yielding its position to other cities in India.

Bangalore has grown because of its potential in the IT industry. The rapid growth had brought about infrastructure problems, which can be overcome, he added. Bangalore would continue to attract talent from India and abroad, Mr. Karnik said.

Vice-Chancellor of VTU Balaveera Reddy said Bangalore, which was considered the Silicon Valley of India, had far more IT companies and IT professionals than the Silicon Valley in the US. Bangalore had more than 1,600 IT companies and an estimated 300,000 IT professionals, he added.

Mr. Karnik said the IT industry in Bangalore was poised to move to new locations and tap new talent. He cited Mysore and Hubli-Dharwad among the cities that could attract the IT industry.

"If infrastructure conducive for industry is available, the IT industry will expand even in such cities," he said. He listed airport, transportation and office facilities as the infrastructure required for the industry's growth.

Mr. Karnik also emphasised the importance of "e-enabling graduates" to make them employable by the IT industry.

Though the country produces three million graduates annually, including 400,000 technical graduates, a large percentage of them do not have the skills required by the industry, he added. The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector enjoys a good potential for sustained growth over the next few years, he said. Special Officer to VTU's E-Learning Centre in Mysore facilitated the satellite-based press