Delay in release of grant by govt hits STPI project
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 17
Establishment of an ambitious centre of Software Technology Park of India (STPI) in the city has failed to take off even two years after the allotment of the land as the state has not released its share of grant-in-aid.
The SAD-BJP government had announced to develop Mohali and Amritsar as software technology hubs in the state, the former was developed while the latter still awaits the start of groundwork.
CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu has now written to CM Parkash Singh Badal about establishing the STPI here soon. This project has failed to take off even two years after allotment of the land. The state government has not released its share of grant-in-aid.
In response to an RTI filed by a local resident, Michael, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an autonomous society under the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has made it clear that further progress on the project was withheld as the state government did not release its share of grant.
The STPI, in a communique issued on October 28, stated that the state government had allotted 2.72 acres in Amritsar to it (STPI) for setting up a centre as well as the incubation facility.
Amritsar as an IT hub could be a major game changer for the region as the city is well connected by road, rail and air with various key national and international destinations.
The STPI centre in Amritsar was allocated after the Chief Minister had requested the then Cabinet Minister Kapil Sibal in 2012. An allotment committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary had approved the allotment of 2.72 acres to set up an STPI Centre at the Industrial Focal Point on September 23, 2013.
Top SAD government leaders had repeatedly declared to develop the city as the next ‘IT Hub of North India’ after Gurgaon a few years ago.
Kulwant Singh Ankhi of the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) said the SAD-BJP coalition government took much interest in developing Mohali as an IT hub than the border city.
The holy city was best suited to be developed as an IT hub as it is well linked to Pakistan by road and rail networks. It has an international bus terminal providing bus services between India and Pakistan.
Besides, it is the gateway to the Central Asian countries like Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Notably, these countries are dependent on foreign countries for most of their IT needs, he said.
Industry in Amritsar could be the best ‘IT destination of India’ as it has an international airport with a couple of daily flights to the Central Asian countries.
