Wednesday, March 2 2005 17:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka Government is in the final stages of clearing 300 acres of land near Yelahanka in Bangalore north for expansion plans of software major Infosys, Chief Minister Dharam Singh said today (March 2, 2005).

"We will give all support to Infosys, which has brought pride to Bangalore. All assistance would be given to generate more employment," Singh told reporters at the Infosys campus on the city outskirts, his first visit to the software house after taking over as the Chief Minister.

Singh, his wife Prabhavathi Singh and senior Government officials were shown around the Infosys campus in electronics city by Infosys Chairman and Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy and Managing Director and CEO Nandan M Nilekani, besides giving an update on the firm's progress.

"Nearly 45 per cent of our (over 35,000) workforce are in Bangalore and we are growing here", Murthy said, adding, the firm had submitted a project proposal for the expansion plan.

Singh said Infosys was also being allotted 50 acres of land at the proposed Rs 390 crore Hi-tech city.

He said the international airport project was on fast track besides the Metro rail project, for which work would begin soon.

"We are a coalition Government, there were initial problems, but now we are focusing on improving urban infrastructure," Singh said.