TCS, India’s leading software solutions provider, is setting up its second software development centre on 1.8 acres in Salt Lake, Kolkata at an estimated cost of more than Rs.50 cr in addition to its existing 1.2 acre development centre in the vicinity. This move is significant since it comes at a time when the global IT industry shows no sign of improvement.

This enhanced investment in Kolkata is in response to the growing assignments from multinational corporates like AIG and GE. TCS expects to consolidate its IT services and broadbase into ITES (especially claims processing), which is expected to provide increased employment opportunities to software professionals in the region.

The new centre may also incorporate a Centre of excellence in oracle solutions. S. Ramadorai, CEO, TCS, confirmed that the new development centre would house around 1200 software professionals working on a gamut of services delivered to a global clientele. The company had 2000 members working out of its Kolkata facility as of
31 March 2003.

TCS has also teamed up with Webel to give shape to the State Government’s e-governance initiative. The company expects to create a portal that will serve as a single window interface between all government departments and citizens using ASP. TCS and Webel may float a joint venture for ASP-based portal delivery systems, according to the TCS chief.