Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14: In a bid to give an impetus to the software industry, the state government has asked three top IT companies — K Raheja Corporation Private Limited, ICICI Bank and the MindTree — to begin work on their proposed software park projects, which have been hanging fire for the past few years.

“We have requested these companies to start work as soon as possible as the market scenario has changed. Their progress vis-à-vis the MoU signed with them has already been reviewed,” said IT secretary D.N. Gupta.

Five companies have signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the state government to set up software parks in the state. Of these Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the only software company to have set up a campus and start full-fledged operation. Though the Wipro campus is also ready, it is yet to commence full-scale operations. Wipro Ltd had signed the MOU with the state IT department on December 21, 2004, for setting up a software development and BPO centre. The government provided the company 30 acres of land for the project and the first phase was supposed to have been completed by 2005-06. The campus with facilities for at least 1,000 employees was expected to be made operational within two years of the signing of the agreement.

“The company has already constructed its office building but they are yet to begin operations in a full-fledged manner,” said a government official. The government, on the other hand, has allotted 30 acres to MindTree for setting up a software development and hardware design centre and allied activities in multiple phases. According to the MoU signed in March 2006, the company was supposed to start construction within 12 months of the agreement. It was supposed to engage 1,000-1,500 persons to provide IT and related services to its consumers around the world. MindTree was also agreement-bound to provide similar services to its domestic consumers, including the state government, depending on the available business opportunities.

“As the company’s chief executive officer, Subroto Bagchi, is from Orissa, we are hopeful of the project taking shape soon,” officials said.

The ICICI Bank was allotted 12 acres of land for setting up an IT hub housing call centres, back-office operations as well as sales and administration offices for the entire eastern region for ICICI group companies. The project envisages recruitment of 5,000 people by 2011 in Phase-I and subsequent expansion in a phased manner adding 1,000 to 1,500 persons per year.

“Following talks with us, the company has assured to commence work on the project this year. We will provide them the required infrastructure, water supply and fire safety mechanism,” officials said.

The government has decided to allot K. Raheja Corporation around 25 acres of land in Bhubaneswar through IDCO for setting up an IT park.

“Recession and the time being taken in handing over the land has delayed the project. Company officials have been told to get in touch with us to sort out their problems and accelerate the project,” said a government official.

Sources said work on the proposed special economic zone ( SEZ ) for the IT industry at Godkashipur has also failed to make any significant progress. “We have completed the boundary wall around the land which is being leveled. Once the campus is ready, it would provide employment to one lakh IT professionals,” officials said.

Information technology Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said: “The market is looking up. IT firms operating in the state exported software worth Rs 1,198 crore during 2009-10 which was much higher compared to exports worth Rs 843 crore in 2007-08 and Rs 1,171 crore in 2008-09.”