Naidu may perform bhoomi puja of Cognizant campus on Dec. 6

Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) has invited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to perform the bhoomi puja of the software development centre of Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) in Visakhapatnam on December 6.

"We have extended an invitation to the Chief Minister and are awaiting confirmation," an APIIC official said. This will be the first big IT company to kick-start its campus work after allotment of 22 acres at Madhurawada at Re.1 per acre. Tata Consultancy Services has also been allotted nearly the same extent of land in the area to start its permanent campus.

Cognizant has committed to invest Rs.1583 crore to create 8,000 jobs in three phases.

Cognizant and TCS are expected to launch their operations at temporary premises from early next year. While the government has given Millennium Tower A and Bto TCS to start its operations temporarily, Cognizant has taken a private building on lease at Rushikonda. Infosys operates from rented premises in the same area. On the other hand, TCS has plans to invest Rs.1370 crore on a 21.16-acre campus to generate 12,000 jobs.