LIDA to be operational within 2-3 yrs

Lucknow, Sep 6 (UNI) The much ambitious industrial corridor between Lucknow and Kanpur -- Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) -- would become operational within the next 2-3 yrs.

Uttar Pradesh had proposed the development of LIDA to provide an alternative site for setting up of industries in the state, apart from Noida and Greater Noida.

UP Industrial Development Commissioner (IDC) Atul Kumar Gupta today said work is on in full swing on LIDA, with private town planners and architects roped in to develop a world class corridor between the twin towns of Kanpur and the state capital.

''LIDA was planned because Lucknow offerred almost all necessary inputs the industry would need in the vicinity including quality technical and management institutes, good infrastructure and awareness among other things,'' he added.

Mr Gupta maintained the emphasis would be on the IT sector at LIDA including development of IT Park and setting up of common facilities.

He also rubbished reports, that work on LIDA had come to a standstill due to several reasons.

''We want to develop LIDA unlike an ordinary industrial corridor, but one, which compares with the best nationally and also internationally,'' he asserted.

The IDC further informed that the idea was to cater specifically to the need of the industry in a professional manner, rather than concentrating merely on completion of LIDA.

''The work of planning has been assigned to private parties, since they would dispense work in a more professional manner compared to government agencies.'' Highlighting the new IT environment, he elaborated that UP provides several sops to IT units including 100 per cent rebate on stamp duty and registration fees.

''An investment of Rs 5,000 crore or more by an entrepreneur in IT units shall be declared as mega unit and provided basket of investments. IT SEZs are being established in UP and two proposals in LIDA have been received,'' he informed.

The IDC said after the declaration of state IT policy, some renowned companies such as NIIT, Wipro and HCL have invested in UP.

Mr Gupta was addressing the media after signing an MoU with global IT company IBM here this afternoon to launch IBM's Project INVITE (Initiative to Nurture a Vibrant Information Technology Ecosystem).

INVITE seeks to help universities and technical institutes train students on open standards based technologies, open source software and IBM technologies to create a larger pool of technical experts among the student population.

Munindra Kumar Bharatee, Eco Systems Leader, IBM Software Group, and Manojit Majumdar, Country Leader, Linux Software&Academic Initiative were present on the occasion.

The project aims to reach out to IT progressive states to enhance e-governance and citizen centric services such as police, employment exchange and land record of revenue department, Mr Bharatee said.

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