Rushikonda in Vizag turning into Cyberabad of AP

Rushikonda, which was for a long time known for its picturesque beach location in Visakhapatnam, of late is transforming into a prominent IT location of India, to be more specific the Cyberabad of Andhra Pradesh due to success in convincing Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) and Infosys to launch their operations.

Both TCS and CTS have been allotted sites for a token amount to set up their permanent software development centers. Millennium Tower is being spruced up to accommodate its campus temporarily so that it can launch its operations in a month or so, IT, Electronics and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said during his recent visit to Visakhapatnam. He said Accenture has evinced interest to set up its campus. Infosys, which is functioning from rented premises, sources said, is also in talks to acquire land.

Visakhapatnam's industrial landscape has received shot in the arm due to high-value investments by India;s first Green Hydrogen Hub by NTPC Green Energy Limited, Rs.1.50 lakh crore multi-phase greenfield steel plant by ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel (India), Google, Adani and Bharati Airtel's $15 billion AI data center and Brookfield's $12 billion green push.

Rushikonda, where an IT Special Economic Zone was developed almost two decades ago, had seen a long struggle to attract investments with multiple teething problems such as bandwidth, public transport, food supply and other issues. However, now it is bustling into a beehive of activity with several high-end residential projects under construction.

Sharing his perspective on emergence of Rushikonda as a most sought-after destination, Murali Manohar Rao Bulusu, Director at Sankhya Technologies Private Limited with proficiency in system modeling, abstraction and synthesis, told Bizz Buzz that like humans, cities too have a personality; a character that is unique. Visakhapatnam, a city on the East Coast of India, has a unique character. Straddled between the beautiful green hills on one side and the ocean on the other, and planned by Nature as a network of cities- Visakhapatnam is especially attractive for enterprises working with a grand vision.

He stated that Rushikonda IT Park was conceived during 2004-05. The then State Government was in a hurry to implement something quick outside Hyderabad. Unlike most industrial parks that are developed by a promoter and allotted to industry, Rushikonda IT Park was proposed to be implemented by the allottees with land allotted to industry on as is where is basis.

Recalling his experience, he said fortunately, Vizag Urban Development Authority (now VMRDA) offered to develop the entire IT park region complete with scenic roads, electrical lines, storm water drains in line with the master plan and charge the units a modest premium

of 10% over the total cost. VUDA working with APIIC and EPDCL created what many consider as the most beautiful IT parks in India completely funded by the tech units."

The first investors included advanced Tech R&D Firms like Sankhya Technologies founded in Chennai; Vizag IT firms-Miracle Software, Symbiosys Technologies, Nunet Technologies and others. Sustainability element was integrated into the development with VUDA (VMRDA) advising units against sinking borewells. Piped water supply was planned and implemented from a nearby reservoir.

Building an Industrial Park is not easy especially on hills and among the number of issues normally taken for granted, obtaining postal code was the most bizarre thing. Denotification of SEZ in 2017 was perhaps the turning point in the evolution of the IT Park. With many teething issues slowly moving towards resolution, the foundation has been laid for a grand future to unfold!

Murali said "Rushikonda IT Park has taken longer than expected to rise. Large Indian IT firms have marginal presence even today. As global tech companies announce trillion-rupee investments into Visakhapatnam, emerging dynamics look clearly different from key drivers of other Indian tech hubs! Visakhapatnam is turning into a melting pot for advanced tech innovation in areas such as AI and Chip Design Automation. National advanced tech R&D firms like Sankhya Technologies, global big tech such as Google, and the amazing talent of Andhra

Pradesh, a major driver of tech innovation in silicon-valley, are rapidly coming together right here in Visakhapatnam.