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Infosys, India’s second-largest software company by market capitalization, is operating the first phase of its brand new IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Hyderabad shortly.

Though first phase to house about 10,000 employees would be fully functional in September this year, the company is planning to commission a facility with 1,000 employees in May. “A formal launch would happen in September or so. But, the operations will begin in May this year. They are likely to start with about 1,000 staff,” a highly placed source said.

The company, which was allotted by 447 acres by the Andhra Pradesh government for setting up its largest campus at Pocharam on the outskirts of Hyderabad, had sought approval for setting up two SEZs. The first phase of one of those facilities is getting ready, a state government official told DNA. The first phase is said to be coming up with an outlay of Rs600-750 crore. Infosys was earlier allotted land at a location, but with the land being in litigations, the government encouraged the company to look at alternative locations. Pocharam, on the Hyderabad-Warangal state highway, was then selected in 2008 for the project.

As per the plan submitted by the company to the government, the two SEZs would house about 25,000 professionals with various facilities including the walk-to-work infrastructure. The total project cost has been pegged at Rs 1,250 crore. “There is no official revision of the project cost as yet. But, our interest is in expanding the employment opportunities. As per the SEZ norms, the company will have to go in for fresh recruitment to fill the campus. Though it is a 10-year plan, we are sure the recruits will be mostly from Andhra Pradesh,” the source said.

It was during the days of former prime minister Deve Gowda accusing Infosys of squatting on huge tranches of land that the company was invited by the Andhra Pradesh government to set up the largest possible campus. Acting on this invitation, the company had initiated the process of setting up the campus in 2007. “After crossing various hurdles, the operations at the campus are about to begin,” the source said. Infosys currently has a 50-acre campus at Gachibowli in Hyderabad, which is considered to be a key centre for its exports.

Via Moneymint.in