OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Consultancy Services is setting up a software development campus here with an investment of Rs 500 crore in two phases, which state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said will help Madhya Pradesh emerge as a new sought-after location for IT companies.

“We will make Madhya Pradesh a new destination for the IT sector. We are certain that TCS's entry into the state will open new avenues for economic development of the state,” Chouhan today said while addressing the foundation stone laying function.

The TCS Indore campus is located in the SEZ Area allotted by the state government. The campus will comprise software engineering blocks, training facilities, amphitheatre, and other facilities to offer a holistic environment to knowledge professionals, according to the company.

“Madhya Pradesh is among the fastest growing states in India in terms of GDP today, which reinforced our intent to provide the best-in-class infrastructure, jobs and business opportunities to the people of the state,” the chief minister said.

He said traditional IT destinations like Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Gurgaon and Mumbai are saturated, whereas states like Madhya Pradesh are emerging as new sought-after locations for the purpose.

“Now, the state has got rid of its BIMARU tag and its growth rate has been in double digits since the last seven years,” Chouhan said.

Chouhan assured TCS that the state government would soon give all necessary permissions for its project to enable completion as per schedule.

He expressed hope that the air connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and other states would improve once the TCS campus becomes functional.

Sprinkled with water bodies and green areas, the TCS campus will incorporate green building concepts such as zero discharge, energy efficient systems, rain water harvesting systems and integrated building management systems, according to the company.

The Chief Minister also announced reduction of VAT on aviation fuel from 23 per cent to five per cent in the state and said that a relevant order would be issued soon in this regard.