Wipro, one of the leading IT companies in the country, is fighting shy of launching its operations in Visakhapatnam for some unspecified reason.

The company was allotted a prime site at the busy TB Hospital Junction right on the National Highway no. 5 along with Mahindra Satyam and it constructed an attractive glass building some years ago, with 2,20,000 sq ft. But the company has not so far started operations. It is not known what is blocking the project. The issue came up for discussion at a seminar on IT industry in Visakhapatnam here on Tuesday. One of the participants, Mr Shiv Kumar, of Maple Software, said that it was one of the talking points in the IT circles that Wipro had not started operations here. It was also proving to be a deterrent to other companies.

Mr Chaman, the representative of Accenture, said that sometime ago the Chairman of his company had visited Visakhapatnam to start operations here, but he also developed second thoughts wondering why an IT major such as Wipro had not yet started operations, after taking possession of the site and constructing the building so long ago.

Mr Balakrishnan, a senior official of Wipro, said in response that Wipro may begin operations here in two months or so, and it was in the final stages. Beyond that, however, he was reluctant to divulge any more details. He was not specific whether Wipro would take up BPO work here or software development.

Mr Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the IT Department in Andhra Pradesh, who was the chief guest at the seminar, expressed the hope that Wipro would at least now start the operations as promised. “You are a major company. If you arrive here, expectations rise and others will follow. Otherwise, they may also put on hold their projects.”

The District Collector, Mr Lav Agarwal, said at least five to six major anchor companies should set up shop in Vizag. It would spur IT growth in the city.

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