Bangalore: IT major Wipro has sought 85 acres of land for expansion near its facility in Chennai and about 25 acres for setting up a new facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu IT Secretary Vivek Harinarain said today (Aug 5, 2004).

"Wipro has asked for about 85 acres for expansion, near the 25 acre campus in Chennai and also 25 acres in Coimbatore," he told reporters in Bangalore.

Harinarain, who is in Bangalore on a road show for Connect 2004, the annual ICT (Information Communication Technology) event at Chennai, met Wipro Chairman Azim Premji earlier in the day.

In his address, the Tamil Nadu IT secretary said, Premji had indicated to expand Wipro's workforce from the existing 5,000 in Chennai to 25,000 over a period.

Harinarain positioned the State as having "continuity of policy" and low attrition in the IT and ITeS (Information Technology-enabled Services) sector for attracting investment into the State.

Last month, Premji had said that Wipro would expand its operations out of Bangalore citing "high wages", attrition and lack of infrastructure.

Wipro Vice Chairman Vivek Paul, who was harsh on the traffic conditions in Bangalore had said, "There has been no material improvement in the last five years and there is no declared intent to improve in the next five years."

The ruling Congress-JDS combine, which swears by its pro-poor and pro-farmer in its budget had increased taxes on IT products and services and in a damage control exercise Chief Minister Dharam Singh has convened a meeting with IT industry leaders on August 10.