Kolkata: Satyam dreams big in Kolkata

[ 1 Sep, 2006 1939hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

KOLKATA: Satyam Computer Services on Friday assured the state government that its Kolkata plans are on track and it will soon start construction at its proposed facility at Salt Lake's Sector V.

"Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju promised us on Friday that construction on the 2.77-acre plot allotted to them at Sector V will start after the monsoons," state IT minister Debesh Das said.

"Raju also said that the company will hire 800 associates in the first phase," the minister added.

Raju, who is also chairman of Nasscom, was in the city on Friday in connection with a programme organised by the eastern India regional council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

However, Das could not elaborate on the built-up space that Satyam would create at Sector V. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in February.

"Raju did not ask us for additional land when we spoke on Friday," the minister pointed out. Sources said Satyam has received the necessary clearances for starting construction at Sector V.

In July, Satyam senior vice-president V Murali had told TOI that operations at Sector V would start by October 2007. Murali had then said that Satyam would develop around 300,000 sq ft at Sector V in two phases.

During the first phase, 120,000 sq ft would be established, he had added. In the past, Satyam had said that 2,000 associates would be employed at Sector V once the facility was complete.

Last year, Satyam officials had visited Rajarhat and Bantala with the objective of establishing a larger presence in Kolkata. However, the high price of land at Rajarhat had come in the way.