Top 20 IT Hubs of India

Top 20 IT Hubs of India

Indian Cities with Major IT Hubs The consistent growth of IT/ITeS sector has put India on the global map. Delhi NCR Indore Realising the immense potential that the sector holds, Central and State government agencies have continuously handed out sops and incentives for its promotion, which has resulted in the formation and proliferation of IT hubs across the country. Mumbai Pune Bangalore Kolkata Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad Chennai While Bangalore continues to be the undisputed leader of the IT growth story in India, other cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi NCR have also emerged and established themselves as IT centres. Kochi Trivandrum Coimbatore

Whitefield in Bangalore is one the country s foremost IT destinations. The growth story of this sleepy hamlet was scripted in the early 2000s. It is now home to several IT establishments such as International Tech Park, Brigade Tech Park hosting the biggest IT companies from all over the world. The presence of sound social and developing physical infrastructure has fostered the image of Whitefield and led to the growth of real estate in Whitefield and around the area. The area boasts of prominent developers that offer mid-range to luxury residential projects. The phenomenal growth of Whitefield hasn t come without some pit falls. With several hundred industries, malls, schools and residential complexes jostling for space in this IT hub, pollution and traffic snarls have become a concern. International Tech Park However, the extension of Namma Metro in its second phase and improving infrastructure is expected to ease the traffic situation considerably. Touted as India s Silicon Valley, Bangalore leads the pack of IT hubs in India. Pleasant climate, an international airport and abundance of local talent has turned Bangalore into a prominent IT destination. The IT revolution well and truly began in Bangalore and many Indian cities have now emulated its successful model.

Infosys Campus Electronics City is another major IT hub of Bangalore and its foundation was laid way back in the 70s. Located 20 km from the city centre, the 332-acre Electronics City is one of the largest industrial parks in the country housing global majors, multinationals companies and iconic firms like Infosys and Wipro. Over one lakh people are said to be directly employed in the Electronics City, which accounts for a large percentage of the country s software and hardware exports. With a large workforce employed in the area, a healthy mix of affordable, midsegment and luxury properties have been developed by a several developers. The traffic problems around the area were partly resolved in January 2010 with the opening of the four-lane mixed corridor elevated highway from Silk Board Junction to Electronics City. Recently, Infosys has proposed a significant expansion of its operations adding about 21,500 seats at the Electronics City hub where it owns an 80-acre campus.

The Outer Ring Road (ORR) has been a game changer for Bangalore by connecting different parts of the city in a seamless manner. The Sarjapur-Marathahalli stretch on the ORR has emerged as a major IT hub and is home to several wellknown IT companies. ORR being a predominant IT growth corridor is preferred by corporate for its accessibility to employee residential catchments and its connectivity to the various SEZ s and IT parks along this stretch. Several factors such as easy connectivity, availability of land and government subsidies and initiatives have led to the growth of this stretch as a prominent IT hub and real estate centre. Prestige Tech Park The ORR accounts for a large percentage of the total office space absorption in Bangalore and this in turn has led to a spike for residential properties along this stretch.

Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City, abbreviated as HITEC City, is a major technology centre of Hyderabad. Spread across 151 acres, the project in Hitec City was initially commissioned with L&T ECC and was named L&T Infocity. The project has been developed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. through its Special Purpose Vehicle, L&T Hitec City Ltd, a joint venture company of L&T Infocity and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited. HITEC City comprises of IT parks such as L&T Infocity, Vanenburg IT Park, Mindspace, Cyberabad SEZ, DLF IT SEZ, TCS Synergy Park and built-to-suit campuses of several major technology companies. Cyber Towers The area is counted among the most lucrative and well-established commercial zones in Hyderabad. With maximum office absorption supply in this zone, the neighbouring areas have seen a steady growth of residential demand. Also known as Cyberabad, the city has grown into a major IT destination due to its sound infrastructure and proactive government policies and support. The city has witnessed a steady growth of the IT sector over the last decade with HITEC City and Gachibowli emerging as major IT hubs.

Infosys Campus, Gachibowli Gachibowli is a major IT suburb of Hyderabad located in the northwest part of the city. It has grown into a prominent software hub for companies operating from Hyderabad and is home to leading names such as Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, Accenture, TCS, Wipro and Infosys. In a recent development, Google Inc has announced that it will build its biggest campus outside the US in Gachibowli at an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore. The 2 million sq. ft. facility will be the internet behemoth s first company-owned campus in Asia and will house 13,000 employees when it is ready in 2019. The presence of another three major projects in Gachibowli and around Gachibowli, are expected to give real estate a major impetus. These include the backup headquarters of Bombay Stock Exchange, the 100-storey business centre of Reliance Infrastructure and the permanent office building of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.

Perungudi is a suburb of Chennai located about 10 kilometres from the town centre of Adyar. It falls on the prominent IT corridor of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and has emerged as an important micro market. Once a small village, Perungudi has scripted a successful growth story of a major IT hub over the last decade and is now home to major IT companies. Currently more than 50 IT companies are based out of Perungudi with several others planning to set up shop. The growth of social infrastructure along the OMR with the availability of schools, hospitals, shopping malls and entertainment centres have fostered the growth of real estate in and around Perungudi. Tidel Park In a recent development, a major land deal which could fetch Rs 550 crore, is under way at Perungudi. The 15.86 acres of freehold land that belongs to Kansai Nerolac Paints is expected to garner Rs 1.5 crore per ground thereby creating ripples in the real estate market in Perungudi. Traditionally regarded as a manufacturing hub, Chennai has recently emerged as the second largest exporter of software after Bangalore. It is home to the largest operations of India s top software company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and is also host to other IT majors such as Infosys, Wipro, CTS and Patni.

Siruseri is a south-eastern suburb of Chennai located 25 kms from the city along the OMR. Along with Perungudi, it is counted as a major IT hub of Chennai and marks the end of the IT corridor along the OMR. It is home to SIPCOT IT Park, a major technology park located in the cyber corridor of Chennai. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has established its largest corporate office in SIPCOT IT Park thereby putting Siruseri on the global map. The areas around Siruseri have witnessed tremendous real estate growth over the last few years. Srinivasa Nagar has emerged as prominent housing complex in the area with many NRIs as property owners. SIPCOT IT Park Other factors such as the opening of prominent educational institutions have also led to the growth of Siruseri.

Hinjewadi is located on the western fringes of Pune and has emerged as one of the biggest IT hubs in the city. Originally a small village, it is now the located of a prominent IT park known as Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park housing major IT companies such as Emcure, Henkel and Advinus. The Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park has been the game changer for Hinjewadi. Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park The influx of prominent IT companies have generated employment for thousands of IT professionals and also spawned the growth of residential real estate in Hinjewadi and around Hinjewadi. The area offers a mix of residential properties ranging from budget to high end homes. The recent development of social infrastructure in the form of malls and entertainment centres has further cemented Hinjewadi s image as a real estate and IT hub. The success story of Pune has been similar to that of Bangalore with salubrious climate, local talent and presence of educational institutes leading to its growth as a prominent IT centre. Within Pune, two micro markets of Hinjewadi and Kharadi have emerged as major IT hubs.

EON Free Zone SEZ Located along the eastern corridor of Pune, Kharadi has also emerged as a major IT hub. The rapid growth of Kharadi into an IT destination can be attributed to the presence of the EON Free Zone SEZ, commercial and residential projects and its proximity to both Pune airport and Pune railway station. Kharadi is also in close proximity to established localities such as Hadapsar, Magarpatta City, Viman Nagar, Chandar Nagar and Koregaon Park. In a recent survey, industry body NASSCOM has singled out the area of Kharadi as one of the fastest growing IT destinations in the country. The area already boasts of two major IT SEZs with many more IT parks in the pipeline. The presence of luxury hotels and shopping malls in Kharadi has also bolstered its image as a prime residential destination of Pune.

Once an economic wasteland, the satellite town of Gurgaon is today regarded as the Millennium City. With its shiny buildings and vibrant economy, Gurgaon is projected as the symbol for the new rising India. Today, Gurgaon is one of the India s fastest growing districts, having expanded more than 70 per cent over the last one decade and is now home to over a million people. At the heart of Gurgaon s development is Cyber City developed by the nation s top-listed developer, DLF. It is known to be one of the country s largest integrated business districts housing some of the biggest names from the world of IT. Cyber City has emerged as a preferred working destination due to its superior connectivity via Rapid Metro which connects six Cyber City buildings by six operational stations. The complex also boasts of Cyber Hub, an integrated food and entertainment destination that has gained popularity with the local workforce. DLF Cyber City With this well-rounded development around Cyber City, the realty market in neighbouring areas of Gurgaon has now crystallized into a favourable one for end users and investors alike. The Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) is regarded as the largest urban agglomeration and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Over the last decade, the satellite towns of Gurgaon and Noida have grown into prominence and have turned into viable options to the burgeoning need for housing in Delhi NCR. The growth of the IT industry has been a major catalyst of growth for both Gurgaon and Noida with Cyber City and Noida-Greater Noida Expressway emerging as strong micro markets.

With the fast-paced development of infrastructure in Noida and its vicinity, real estate growth has picked up over the last few years. Upcoming major projects like the Export Promotion Zones and Taj Economic Zone along the Yamuna Expressway are likely to give further impetus to economic development in the area, thereby also boosting real estate. The stretch of Noida-Greater Noida Expressway has emerged as a major IT destination with many prominent companies setting up shop here. Rental affordability in this area compared to other micro markets such as Gurgaon and other parts of Noida have been the clinching factor for the growth of IT sector. Advant Navis Business Park The area also enjoys easy access to Delhi via the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyway and to Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway. The presence of commercial real estate in Delhi NCR along this stretch has pushed the demand for residential projects that are mushrooming all along the expressway.

Rajarhat Newtown located in 24 Parganas district is a fastgrowing planned satellite city of Kolkata. This new IT and residential hub has come up on the north-eastern fringes of Kolkata. Major IT companies already have presence in Rajarhat, while TCS and Wipro have been allotted space for their campuses. Some of the operational IT companies in Rajarhat include Cognizant, IBM, Genpact, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra, Accenture, Phillips and HCL Technologies. DLF IT Park Apart from a strong IT presence, the area also enjoys good connectivity via Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and Belgharia Expressway connecting it to the southern northern parts of Kolkata while the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is close to this micro market. Currently, work is in progress to connect Rajarhat via Metro to the airport and the southern part of the city. All these factors combined have led to a robust demand and growth for residential real estate in Rajarhat and around Rajarhat. Kolkata has emerged as a major IT centre of eastern India with all major companies having established their presence here. Over the last decade or so, two major IT hubs of Rajarhat and Salt Lake City have grown into prominence.

Salt Lake City is yet another planned satellite city located on the fringes of Kolkata that was developed between 1958 and 1965 to accommodate the growing population of the city. The city derives its name from the reclaimed salt-water lake on which it is built. However, it is over the last two decades that the area has grown into prominence due to the growth of the IT sector. The IT hub of Salt Lake City is home to many notable IT/ITes companies, both domestic as well as multinational. Industry majors such as TCS, Wipro and IBM have presence in the area with over a lakh people are said to be employed in Sectors III & V of Salt Lake City. As a result of this strong IT growth, a large section of Kolkata s population has taken a fancy to the properties developing in Salt Lake City. Technopolis Apart from IT professional directly employed within the area, property seekers from other parts of the city have also been taking up properties in Salt Lake City.

Airoli in Navi Mumbai has emerged as a prominent IT hub and is a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The fortunes of this sleepy hamlet changed with the opening of the Airoli-Mulund Bridge that connects the Eastern Highway with the Thane-Belapur Road. Opened in 1999, the bridge contributed to Airoli s expansion and connected it to the important suburb of Mulund. Airoli has developed a strong IT eco-system that includes the igate Knowledge Park (previously known as Patni Knowledge Park), Reliable Tech Park and Mindspace. Tshese IT establishments are hosts to major IT companies that have provided employment to thousands of IT professionals. igate Knowledge Park Airoli also happens to be a part of Navi Mumbai that is expected to be one of the fastest growth corridors in the MMR. With the development of an international airport and smart city NAINA, the fortunes of Airoli and its real estate market are expected to grow. Widely regarded as the commercial, entertainment and financial capital of the country, Mumbai has witnessed growth in the IT and BPO industry over the last decade. Major IT players such as TCS, Patni, L&T, Infotech have presence in Mumbai with Airoli and Powai emerging as significant micro markets.

Powai, a North-eastern suburb of Mumbai has grown exponentially in recent years to become one of Mumbai's toniest business and residential hubs. The reasons for this include the environment, the quality of air, affordable as well as premium properties in Powai and the profile of its residents. The presence of prestigious IT companies in Powai has propelled the growth of this prestigious micro market. Powai stands out as a clear candidate for excellent destination development location because the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road offers good connectivity between the western and central suburbs. Kensington SEZ Good infrastructure and the fact that it is situated at a height also add to its appeal as one of the most prestigious addresses in Mumbai.

Kakkanad is a prominent business district of Kochi and home to the Cochin Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). Being the IT hub of Kochi, Kakkanad is where the second largest IT park of Kerala, the Kochi Infopark is located. It is also the location for the upcoming IT industrial township, the Kochi Smart City. The CSEZ houses the Muthoot Technopolis which is populated by big names such as Cognizant, Williamslea and Sutherland Global Solutions. Kakkanad is also being developed as New Kochi with a new township coming up in the area. Cochin SEZ Apart from CSEZ, Infopark and Smart City and other business establishments, the administrative centre of Ernakulam district is also located close to this area. These factors provide a big advantage to Kakkanad in its development as an IT and real estate hub. Kochi is a major port city located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. Regarded as the commercial capital of the state, the city has strong growth drivers which are in turn linked to the development of real estate. Recently, the IT sector has emerged as a growth driver for the city the area of Kakkanad coming to the forefront.

The largest IT establishment of Trivandrum, Technopark, is home to several companies including Oracle, Infosys, TCS, Capgemini and IBS Software Services. Spread over nearly 300 acres with 4 million sq ft of built up area available, Technopark hosts over 330 IT/ITeS companies employing over 45,000 professionals. As part of its Phase IV expansion, Technopark is developing 450 acres of land in Pallippuram, 5 km north of the main campus as Technocity. Technopark Phase III With the IT growth provided by Technopark, the area of Kazhakoottam is witnessing a boom in real estate with most top builders developing projects in Technopark. Technopark and the upcoming Technocity are expected to further fuel this real estate growth. For many years the economy of Trivandrum was based on the tertiary sector with a large section of the workforce employed as government servants. Presently, the city s economy is boosted with the growing contribution of the IT sector. Since the establishment of Technopark in the 90s, Trivandrum has steadily grown into a competitive IT centre.

Avinashi Road is an arterial road passing through Coimbatore and is the hub of most of the city s commercial activity. Running from east to west, this road connects Coimbatore to its airport and the eastern and north-eastern suburbs. The road is an indicator of the development of Coimbatore that has grown mostly along its eastern and western sides. The area is in close proximity to the important IT centre of TIDEL Park, which was set up in 2006 to foster growth of information technology in other districts of Tamil Nadu. Tidel Park, Coimbatore With TIDEL Park now employing thousands of employees, the real estate scenario along Avinashi Road and other areas has visibly improved. The second largest city of Tamil Nadu after Chennai, Coimbatore is now shedding its traditional image of textile manufacturing hub and emerging as a promising IT centre. The city has two Special Economic Zones, the Coimbatore Hi-Tech Infrastructure (CHIL) SEZ at Sarvanampatti and the TIDEL Park near Peelamedu with at least five more SEZs in the pipeline. With this robust IT growth, Coimbatore is now second to only Chennai as the second largest producer of software in Tamil Nadu.

The Information Technology sector is expanding rapidly in Indore with exports from the city s maiden IT park, Crystal IT Park growing exponentially. Companies like Infosys and TCS have started the construction of their respective offices in Indore near the Super Corridor. Both the companies are approximately 5 km from Indore airport. It is believed to create about 5000 jobs in coming 5-6 years. IT companies are increasingly looking at investing in Indore as there are a large number of engineering colleges from where thousands of talented engineers graduate every year. Crystal Park Apart from that, the air and rail connectivity to the city has improved significantly. Meanwhile, the state government is also rolling out the red carpet to IT companies and is working towards developing Indore as the new IT destination.

With several institutes of higher education, including an IIT, Bhubaneswar is setting the foundation for becoming a hub for research and technology startups in the eastern region. The city is developing as a major eastern hub, providing a clear alternative to the established IT centre of Kolkata. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has already set up a sprawling office in Bhubaneswar and MindTree has built a learning centre right next to TCS, and sends all its new recruits for intensive training there. Chip design firm Sankalp too has a development centre here. According to recent surveys among tier II & III cities, Bhubaneswar has been chosen as among the best for conducting IT/ITeS business. The state government is fuelling this growth by development of IT parks such as Infocity-1, Infocity-2, STPI-Bhubaneswar and JSS STP. STPI Park Infocity was conceived as a five-star park under the Export Promotion Industrial Parks (EPIP) Scheme to create infrastructural facilities for setting up IT related industries. Infosys and Tech Mahindra have been present in Bhubaneswar since the 90s and apart from multinationals, some 300 small and mid-sized IT companies and start ups have also found a healthy breeding ground in Bhubaneswar.