There have been events in this field before, but this is the first all-comprehensive event of its kind, and on this scale. We expect a very good response as the city now has everything it needs, and the external and internal environment is just right. Even the state government is promoting this city.

When did you start looking out for companies to set up shop here, and begin work on gearing up the city’s existing infrastructure?

It was around August 2005 that we passed our IT policy, and Aurangabad has been actively looking out for IT companies since then. Though individual IT space developers have done a lot of work on this front, at the city-level, there was no concerted effort. I am really surprised at the interest that this summit has created amongst all the local players. From Developers, to the STPI, engineering and other colleges, companies in general, the CMIA and all the people interested in the development of the city have geared up and are helping us.

How much investment has come into Aurangabad since 2005?

I am sorry that I cannot put a figure to it, but can say with certainty that it is much lesser than the potential.

What facilities does the city offer to incoming companies? On fronts such as education, transportation and residential, amongst others?

Aurangabad offers great educational facilities right from middle and secondary schools to professional courses.

In fact, the schooling in the city is comparable to any metro in standard, and one can choose from various boards, including CBSE and ICSE.

The academic ambience for the overall development of children is good. Transportation is quite satisfactory; there is city bus transport and city taxi services are also being started.

Given that it is the de facto capital of Marathwada and a prominent tourist destination, there are lots of transport options available, with several private players in the fray too. Air connectivity is very good, and the old airport is undergoing full-scale development and transformation into an international airport. Expansion will be complete by November 2008.

The residential facilities are both good and affordable. There are four schemes of CIDCO in and around the city. We have large malls such as Big Bazaar and Spencer. There are two multiplexes already and three-four more in the pipeline.

The cultural life is very active, with the annual Ellora festival being the jewel in the crown.

The city also has good hotels, including several five-star ones, due to large influx of foreign tourists to the famed Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Is Aurangabad, which seems to have a water shortage problem, geared up for a population influx? What are the development plans of the Corporation?

There is a problem on the water front. The population stands at a million-plus, and is poised to grow at a very fast rate.

However, this problem is being addressed on a war footing, with a scheme to augment the water source, to take care of an estimated 25 lakh population by 2030, having been sent to the Union Government. We expect to start work on it by June.

What are the initiatives the Municipal Corporation has embarked upon to make this a more ‘livable city’?

The city has started city transport on public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

It has undertaken several infrastructure projects, most notable being a Rs 110-crore integrated road development project, of which roads worth about Rs 50 crore are expected to be completed by June.

Overhaul of street lights, privatisation of sanitation (transport and collection of garbage) has been approved and is expected to start in early March.

Any other areas that the Corporation is working on?

The city is at the forefront of e-governance initiatives.

Our e-tendering system has been a great success and has ensured a paperless tendering process.

Tenders are bought, filled, submitted and opened on the Internet.

Our building permissions are given on the computer system and we are selling building permission software to architects and developers so that they can check their drawings before submission and there is complete transparency.

The city government has already allotted the work of ERP implementation to a SAP-CMC combine and it is expected to go live in about a month’s time.

A novel project of using Simputers for mother and child health programmes has also been a great success with all expectant and neo mothers’ data already entered in the system, along with details of the children, so that no mother/child is left out of immunisation.

Aurangabad has also done a decent job of preserving its heritage in terms of rejuvenation of its 350-year-old town hall and gates. Its energy-saving initiatives also have earned accolades.

I can say there is so much to do, yet the city is improving day by day. Its potential in attracting IT companies, or other companies for that matter, is overwhelming.

I believe that the reason it has not attracted the kind of investments that should have come its way is because it has not been projected properly, and there is lack of information on its potential.

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