Pratima Harigunani

PUNE: Property tax at residential rates, FSI cap up to 2.0, Shop Act relaxations, broadband connectivity with optical fibre networks by Reliance, Hutch, Airtel, Octroi free environment and a mere 100 km run from Pune. These are some of the many advantages in the pitch-list of Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation as it tries to woo investors and IT honchos for incremental expansions after Pune

“Pune is witnessing signs of saturation with traffic congestions and Hinjewadi choc-a-bloc and we are just 100 km away from Pune. Besides a land acquisition cost difference of 10 per cent, 24/7 water availability, pleasant climate, airport proximity and the Corporation’s drive to enable IT expansion with all possible government help and NOCs, we are sure Ahmednagar will attract substantial action soon,” said Sudhakar Deshmukh, deputy commissioner, Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation. The corporation has 85 sq. km of land under it for now.

With a population of four lakh of which three lakh occupies 15 sq. km, there is ample land available. “While Kolhapur faces the problem of irrigated land being a major part of total area, we have the advantage of barren land,” Deshmukh said.

So far, interest and enquiries have trickled in from various quarters and a 20-acre Wadia park with shopping malls and 70 per cent completion work shows some visible progress. “Look at the way IT changed Pune’s landscape in two years. We hope the same for Ahmednagar too. Nothing concrete has materialized now but companies like Symantec and Infosys have expressed interest. Enquires are coming meanwhile.” Deshmukh added.

But with rival towns like Kolhapur, Nashik and Nanded also in the fray, it might take some time and tangible announcements before Ahmednagar can turn to be the next IT satellite around Pune.

© CyberMedia News