Hyderabad:
As the residual state of Andhra Pradesh prepares to choose the new capital city after the creation of Telangana, it seems that Tirupati, the temple town, could well become the crown of the state, if not its capital.
But it is now a case of more supply than demand - no big companies in the available sprawling facilities for the talented students who pass out from the reputed universities here.
Tirupati is home to several reputed universities which produces extraordinary talent each year. At least 100 multi-product companies including Pepsi, Cadbury, Isuzu Motors, Kobelco and others have together employed more than 18,000 people near Tada, a manufacturing hub about 80 km away. The big challenge now is to get these big companies to click on destination Tirupati.
Although sandwiched between Bangalore and Chennai with good connectivity, water resources, and sufficient power, that has not happened. The IT clan says a catalyst is needed to make things work here and they hope the man credited with the turnaround of Hyderabad, Chandrababu Naidu, will play that role. The TDP chief will be taking oath as chief minister on June 8 near Vijayawada, which is expected to be the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh.
"I was among the first to start a company here, but for over 5-6 years we have only had promises. With Hyderabad going away, we need now think of another IT capital. This is a good opportunity for us. Right now we have immense raw talent. The right things need to be done - like bringing down Internet cost, rent cost," says Giridhar G, Vice President of the Tirupati IT Association.
Nearly one lakh pilgrims visit Tirupati each day. Twelve crore tourists out of the total 20 crore who came to the undivided Andhra Pradesh visited Tirupati. The division of the state may mean a big black cloud over the Seemandhra region but the silver lining is that it is a huge opportunity, particularly for revenue generators like Tirupati, which for long have not go their due.