The Orissa chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, on Wednesday inaugurated the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) development centre here expressing happiness over the city's growing stature as an IT hub in the country.

The TCS development centre was operationalised with 250 software professionals, Patnaik said at a function attended by the Tata Group chairman, Mr Ratan Tata.

Patnaik also inaugurated Ginger hotel, described as a 'Smart Basics' hotel set up here by the Indian Hotels Company, in the presence of Mr Tata. He expressed his hope that the group would also set up such hotels in the growing industrial towns of Jharsuguda, Angul and Paradip.

The chief minister said that there had been a 15-per cent growth in both domestic and foreign tourists visiting Orissa. He also announced the setting up of an institute of mathematics in Bhubaneshwar.

Explaining the Ginger concept, the Tata Group Chairman said it had decided to address the needs of the larger segment of people ignored by most companies.