Karnataka to promote small cities as tech-hubs

BANGALORE: Four electronic hardware parks and promotion of smaller cities as tech-hubs are proposed in Karnataka's new information technology and electronics hardware policy, state minister V.S. Acharya said Tuesday.

The new policy will promote IT and related industries in smaller cities, the medical education minister said.

The electronic hardware parks will come up in the regions of Bangalore-Tumkur and Mysore-Nanjangud in the south, Shimoga-Hassan in central part, and Hubli-Dharwad in the north, Acharya, who is also the cabinet spokesman, told reporters.

He added that the government will provide Rs.25 crore for the project in the 2011-12 state budget to be presented in February.

About 1,000 acres of land has been identified for setting up each of the parks, Acharya said.

Karnataka has exported software worth Rs.75,000 crore so far in current financial year that ends March 31.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said in October that he hoped the export to touch Rs.90,000 crore by March.