Infosys awaits green nod for Mohali campus

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10

Information Technology giant Infosys is awaiting environmental clearance for its proposed software unit at Mohali in Punjab. 

After getting the clearance, the company will commence civil construction. The campus, to be developed in phases, is likely to see an investment of Rs 425 crore in the first phase and will initially employ 5,000 people.

In February this year, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Board has approved the setting up of the campus (a sector special SEZ) on 20.23 hectares for IT/ITES at Mohali.  Also, the campus project has received the stage-1 clearance comprising change in land use, consent to establish, forest clearance, and temporary power connection etc.

“They (Infosys) have received the SEZ nod and are awaiting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance. Having various campuses across the country, the IT giant is well-versed with nitty-gritty of things. We are hopeful that they will receive the EIA clearance soon,” said sources in the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion. They said they were processing the building plan submitted by the firm. 

A company statement said the campus had been designed by RSP Design Consultants and would be developed and executed as per the highest rating guidelines of Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

According to the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion, Infosys intends to invest Rs 1,032 crore at Mohali and employ 15,000 people.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the foundation stone for the campus at Mohali in the presence of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy in February 2014. 

This will be the company’s second campus in Punjab. The first campus in Chandigarh has been operational since 2006 and is spread over 30 acres with a seating capacity for 6,000 employees. The company has invested Rs 332 crore to build it. Last year, total exports from the facility stood at Rs 2,245 crore.