The construction of the Infosys software development centre is likely to start in July. The Infosys centre will be developed over 20 acres of land. The company has already paid Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million), the first instalment of the land price, to the Chandigarh administration.

Information technology giant Infosys plans to set up a 2,400 person centre at the 111 acre software technology park in Kishangarh near Chandigarh.

In the first phase, which will be complete in April 2005, Infosys will recruit 600 professionals. Infosys is the anchor company for the technology park. Infosys has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chandigarh administration.

Infosys chose Chandigarh over Gurgaon and Delhi because of the quality of life, non-polluting environment and good connectivity to the areas of recreation, said Mohan Das Pae, chief financial officer of Infosys.

Chandigarh, a middle class educated city like Bangalore, was a catchment pool for students from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, he added.

DLF Ltd is constructing the ready-built space at the park, which will be offered to various companies. Around 600,000 square feet space will be on offer from July 31.

Chandigarh has become a favourite destination for the call centres. The city already has eight call centres.

Meanwhile, the administration has started C-TOSS (Chandigarh Training on Soft Skills) training programme to ensure sustained availability of skilled workers for the ITES companies. It would help in upgrading human resources for the ITES and BPO sectors, said an official.

The training modules will cover communication skills, interpersonal skills and other ITES industry specific skills. It will be introduced in eight colleges from August. The training programme will be run by selected agencies.

Infotech power

• In the first phase, which will be complete in April 2005, Infosys will recruit 600 professionals.
• Infosys is the anchor company for the technology park and has signed an MoU with the Chandigarh administration.
• The administration is developing a software technology park at Kishangarh.
• DLF Ltd is constructing the ready-built space at the software park.