Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP)  - Holistic Approach

Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP) is an extremely important project for the Union Territory of Chandigarh as it provides world class integrated infrastructure necessary for the setting up of facilities/campuses by leading Technology Companies and other IT/ITES/BPO companies for the first time in this region. Chandigarh has traditionally been a city where not many multi-national companies had earlier set up their facilities and therefore a large number of professionals had left Chandigarh in the past for other cities, in search of high level employment. The level of educational facilities here had been much higher than the level of employment opportunities available, especially in the knowledge sector. North India, as a whole had lagged behind the southern States, and RGCTP is a major step in the direction of redressing that imbalance.

Phase I & II

An area of 111 acres was originally identified for the purposes of setting up of RGCTP. This land was acquired between 1950 to 1977 for the establishment of brick kilns and was lying unutilized. It was decided that this area of 111 acres be used for establishing a world class IT park with state of the art infrastructure including the provision of 100% availability of power and broadband connectivity. As the Tier I cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, NCR of Delhi were getting choked because of the IT boom in India, meticulous planning and aggressive marketing of Chandigarh as an IT destination placed Chandigarh on the national map as an excellent Tier II destination which started attracting the attention of a lot of IT multinational companies. As such, huge demand of IT space started pouring in and the area of 123 acres started looking small.

Accordingly, the adjoining area was acquired in 2004 for the expansion of RGCTP as Phase II and a total of 267 acres was acquired.

Development of RGCTP-Phase I & II

The development of RGCTP has been anchored by Infosys, which has completed its state of the art campus. DLF is also offering ready to use built up space and is already housing 37 IT Companies. These state of the art buildings is already providing directly employment to more than 6000 professionals. IT majors like Wipro, Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, alongwith 21 other companies are in the process of developing their respective sites allotted to them. A state of the art Entrepreneurs Development Centre is being established by the Administration for providing incubation space to young entrepreneurs.

Apart from a Hotel cum Convention Centre, a Tech Habitat Centre is also under development on a 123 acre plot under PPP model. This project has been planned taking into consideration the logistic needs relating to the residential accommodation for the IT professionals who would be working in RGCTP.

This visionary project of the Administration was lauded by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he visited Chandigarh for the inauguration of the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park on 24 September 2005.

Expansion of RGCTP-Phase III

Keeping in view the pending applications for various sizes of plots in RGCTP and the huge demand pouring in from various quarters across the globe, another 272 acres of land have been planned for expansion of RGCTP. The land for this Phase is under acquisition, which is likely to be completed by December 2009, after which further allotments will be undertaken as per the Policy.

Socio-Economic Benefits from RGCTP

As detailed out in the forgoing paragraphs, the RGCTP has been planned keeping in view the aspirations for the citizens of the whole Region for getting integrated with the world community, Chandigarh has been promoted as a knowledge hub, which also includes the setting up of a world class IT Park. The main focus of the establishment of RGCTP is to create employment for the youth of the Region apart from bring in investment, which would thereafter lead to software exports.

The setting up of IT Park has opened Chandigarh to national and multinational IT companies, which are bringing investment and employment opportunities to the Region.

The development of the RGCTP has thus been planned in a holistic manner. Already more than 10,000 professionals are working in RGCTP and an investment of more than Rs. 1000 Cr has poured in. Last year (2008-09), the total software exports from RGCTP alone were Rs. 390 Cr out of Rs 504 Cr for the tricity. Similarly it is estimated that once completed, Phase I and Phase II would provide direct employment to more than 30,000 professionals, and an equivalent number would be directly employed in Phase III taking the figure of direct employment from RGCTP to more than 60,000 professionals. Accordingly, the total investment for RGCTP will cross Rs. 6000 Cr and it is further estimated that the software exports from RGCTP will cross Rs. 4500 Cr by the end of 2011.

The above numbers of more than 60,000 direct employment will be further augmented by 3 times this number, as every single IT job created further creates 3 indirect jobs, and wherever the IT Industry has been established, the indirect employment has benefited all cross sections of the society, as the direct employment has to be technically skilled.

The tabulation of anticipated benefits to Chandigarh (by the end of year 2009-10) are as is indicated below:

Note : The figures for employment generation are only for direct employment in the IT sector. The indirect employment would be 3 times the figures for direct employment as every single IT job creates 3 more indirect jobs.
Though most of the State Govts. have been offering land to IT companies at nominal rates or free of cost, the rate at which the Administration has been allotting land to IT companies in Chandigarh is amongst the highest in the country.

INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT WITHIN RGCTP

Integrated Habitat Centre (Tech Habitat)

Looking into the need for a holistic development of the RGCTP an area of 123 acres has been earmarked as an integrated habitat centre for the IT professionals, this land has been transferred to CHB at a cost of Rs. 32.50 Cr. The CHB has taken up this project under PPP model and after a national level competition, the private partner was selected who would be paying an upfront payment of Rs 821.21 Cr to CHB and 30% of the gross sale proceeds. The total receipts from the project are likely to be about Rs. 1200 Cr.

This money received from the Integrated Habitat project in RGCTP by the Chandigarh Housing Board will be used for social re-engineering. Chandigarh Housing Board has created a dedicated fund out of the proceeds of this project, for developing the infrastructure for slum rehabilitation in the city. This rehabilitation will enable the release of 192 acres of land presently encroached upon by the homeless, which was meant for commercial/residential/ institutional purposes. This encroached land, spread across the city, has become a roadblock for carrying out developmental activities in the city. As such twin objectives are being achieved by the Tech Habitat project, by coupling the development with social re-engineering, which has not happened in any IT hub in the country. Such social re-engineering projects have been appreciated by the rest of the country, and Chandigarh is the first to initiate such innovative developmental activities, where the gains of development are used for social purposes. The efforts of Chandigarh Administration for social re-engineering are being recognised by a grant of Rs. 400 Cr. under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The break up of proceeds from the projects are:

(# This scheme will also be supported by funds under JNNURM)

All kinds of infrastructural support required in an integrated township has been provided for the Tech Habitat namely Poly clinic, Fire station, School, Sports stadium, parks etc. All these utilities shall be constructed by the developer and handed over to the Administration for their operation. Similarly, adequate space for commercial centre has been earmarked in the Tech Habitat which will have a state of the art shopping complex.

Entertainment & Other Support Infrastructure within RGCTP

• A Hotel cum Convention Centre is coming up on a 4 acre plot within RGCTP. The land was allotted through a limited auction process which was clinched by DLF being the highest bidder. DLF has entered into collaboration with Bharat Hotels Ltd for the establishment of a five star Hotel at the site under the brand name of "THE GRAND- CHANDIGARH".

• Adequate space has been marked for multi-utility service block in the DLF campus where a state of the art Shopping Mall cum Multiplex has been constructed and is ready for inauguration. This Complex will have a food court, three theatres and also shopping area which will be housing all the international brands.

• A Meditation cum Rejuvenation Centre is being proposed on a 9 acre plot where meditation huts and a naturopathy centre will come up alongwith the green spaces. This Centre will have a thick forest area measuring 12 acres alongwith where natural trails and all kinds of medicinal and aromatic trees will be planted.

• Dedicated Power Station has been set up within RGCTP which will be catering to continuous power supply to the IT Companies working in RGCTP. All overhead HT cables are being removed and converted into underground cable network, thereby providing an aesthetic look to the RGCTP complex.

• Apart from the essential services like sewerage, storm water, streetlights etc., exclusive gullies have been left for the laying of broadband cables which can be shared by all the service providers.

• In order to cater to the needs of the service providers like drivers etc, tuck shops have been provided near the parking.

• Adequate Green Spaces and Parking have been provided throughout the RGCTP.

INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS PARK

• A business friendly conversion policy has facilitated the owners of plots in the Industrial Area Phase I & II to convert their plots from industrial to commercial use making the way for state of the art Shopping Malls, Hotels, Commercial Centres etc so as to provide quality support services to the Knowledge Industry.

• To cater to the needs of the visitors and the shortage of quality hotels, adequate spaces have been identified for more hotels near the business districts.

HEALTH CARE

• A Medi-City has been planned on an area of 100 acres which will have state of the art super specialty hospitals providing quality medical care. Common facilities such as Recoupment Centres, MRI Scan Centres, Path labs etc are also being planned within the Medi city so as to make it an integrated medical mini township Apart from catering to the needs of the Knowledge Industry, the Medi city will also promote Medical Tourism.

• General Hospital Sector 16 has been upgraded to General Multi Specialty Hospital, so as to provide quality health care to the underprivileged. General Medical College & Hospital Sector 32 and General Multi Specialty Hospital Sector 16 would be looking after the primary and secondary health care needs.

• PGI ME&R would be upgraded to a world class Referral Hospital, where only complicated medical cases would be referred from the Region.

• A Complete study of the integration of the Health Care systems has been made by Director, PGI ME&R and the same has been sent to Government of India. This study has also identified the need for another Medical Education Centre, and a project for Rs 240 Cr has been prepared which will be implemented under the PPP model.

• A Regional Trauma Centre is being set up in Sector 56 which will cater to trauma patients from the whole region.

EDUCATION & RESEARCH

• In order to develop the requisite talent for the Knowledge Industry, a new state of the art Education City is coming up, which will have world class educational faculty and excellent infrastructure. The selection of the private partners is in progress to create Centres of Excellence. The courses which will be offered in the Education City will be designed in accordance to the needs of the Knowledge Industry e.g Supply Chain Management, Financial Services, Hospital Management, Knowledge management etc.

• A Cyber Security Research Centre (first of its kind in the country) has been set up in collaboration with NASSCOM and Punjab Engineering College for conducting high quality research on cyber security issues involving the academia, IT Industry and Government security agencies. Apart from the research on cyber security threats, it will also aid and advise the State Police of the neighbouring states in cyber security matters.

• NAC (Nasscom Assessment of Competence) Test, which is a standardized entry level exam for IT BPO Industry has been held in September 2007. The cost to the Chandigarh Administration would be Rs 40 Lakhs and it allowed 2000 students to take the exam free of cost. This will help the IT Industry to have certification of the available talent in the region.

• SPIC has established Centres of Excellence in collaboration with Microsoft and IBM. The students are trained in Microsoft Certified programmes which help the IT Industry get trained man power.

• C-TOSS, a programme for upgrading the soft skills of the youth and make them suitable for employment by the IT-BPO industry has been started in Chandigarh. Free training is provided in all Government schools both in urban and rural areas enhancing employability of students. Free training is also being imparted to school drop outs from under privileged sections of the society under CITROP (Chandigarh IT Reach Out Programme).

WATER SUPPLY

• A Project for augmentation of the Water Supply has been prepared and sent to GOI under JNNURM for approval. This will go a long way in contributing towards Rain water Harvesting, Ground Water Charging and also reducing our dependence on pumping out Ground water.

• Tertiary Water treatment plan is also under implementation which will cater to the needs of supporting 2000 parks/gardens in the city.

POWER SUPPLY

• Long term tie ups have been made with all the Power Corporations, so as to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the City.

• Talks are going on for setting up a state of the art Solar Power Generation Centre, in order to harness the solar energy.

• In order to provide uninterrupted and high quality power, T & D losses have been brought down from 24% to 19%, which will be further brought down to 16%.

TRANSPORT

• To cater to the exponential increase in the transport needs of the city, a Mono Rail project is being implemented. A proposal for Rs 3045 Cr has been sent to GOI. The same will be extended to RGCTP and linked to Panchkula and Mohali.

• Low Floor Bus services have been started on the grid which are available every 6 minutes for a ticket having a flat rate of Rs. 5 only. The fleet would be augmented by adding another 50 buses before the yearend.

• Radio Taxis with electronic meters, GPS etc. have been launched in the city, which has reduced the harassment of the Industry professionals from the unorganized sector.

E-GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES

• E-Sampark Centres have been designed to look after 18 G2C and 4 B2C services from 9 centres across the city. These Centres are providing facilitation services to the citizens. These Centres have been further supplemented by Jan Sampark Centres and Gram Sampark Centres.

• SWAN- State Wide Area Network is being implemented in Chandigarh connecting all the Government offices with NIC data centre and e-Governance Centres.

• Under NeGP, a study for redesigning of the business processes is in progress. Once this is complete, these key departments will be covered under e-Governance programme which will help in reducing the Govt-citizen interface.

• A state of the art State Data Centre is also coming up in UT Secretariat which will have all the requisite support systems for the e-Governance initiatives of the Administration.

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION

• A Multi Media Centre and Film City is being set up on a 30 acre plot in village Sarangpur, which will have different types of activities like multimedia college, ready to built space for multimedia activities, digital studios, animation , gaming and other related technologies including their Research.

• An Amusement cum Theme Park is also being set up on 70 acres in village Sarangpur, which will consist of games, rides, water games etc. as per world standards.

• Nehru Centre for Performing Arts is being set up in Sector 34, Chandigarh which will also have the facility of an international convention centre and theatres.

• Rejuvenation of the City Centre, Sector 17 is being undertaken by provision of multi level parking, relaying of the floors of main plaza, provisioning of tourist information centres etc.

• Completion of Sub City Centre in Sector 34 will further boost the commercial activity of the city.

• Botanical Garden has being developed on 178 acres in village Sarangpur, which consists of 15 botanical sections and other features to promote eco tourism. Similarly, Bamboo Valley has been established in Sector 23 so as to provide green space.

• 3 Lakes, two along Patiala ki Rao and 1 along Sukhna Choe are being undertaken , as a part of environmental related initiatives.

• Second State Library is being completed in Sector 34

OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE

• Upgradation of Chandigarh Airport to international standards is under implementation with the first step of transfer of 8.5 acres land to the AAI. Cooperation is also being extended to Punjab for the establishment of Airport terminal at Mohali which will facilitate the Chandigarh Airport be upgraded as an international airport.

• Keeping in view the residential needs of service providers to RGCTP, adequate housing is being planned in Mani majra by CHB and also in Bapu Dham Colony, which will provide housing to EWS and lower income group of the society.