Hyderabad: Hyderabad, among the metros in the country, has cemented its position as an industrial hub and investment hotspot built on the strong fundamentals of stability, security, and maintenance of law and order. The burgeoning IT industry here, in fact, is fast becoming a threat to Bengaluru for its numero uno position in the sector.
For most IT majors that have descended on the capital in the past six years, the stable governance provided by the TRS and the absence of communal trouble besides other parameters such as infrastructure and progressive policies has been the key factors to establish a base here. That the State attracted about Rs 2 lakh crore in investments in just the last six years speaks volumes of the city’s emergence as a safe place for investors. Any disturbance to the existing conditions can turn out to be a matter of concern for the investors, industry experts believe.
An estimated Rs 33,000 crore was invested in the IT sector alone for IT parks in addition to direct investments by existing multinational companies to expand their operations. About 23 percent of the total Rs 2 lakh crore investments have been from existing companies. With Rs 1.28 lakh crore exports, the IT sector recorded 17.93 percent growth in 2019-20 with Telangana State accounting for about 11.6 percent of India’s IT exports. Hyderabad has a strong IT workforce of over six lakh and has witnessed a 7.2 percent rise in IT jobs, which also led to the creation of an additional 20 lakh jobs through indirect employment. There is a strong presence of people, particularly techies, from other States who landed in the city on getting jobs and decided to settle down given the friendly ambiance of the capital.
Hyderabad was ranked 16th at the international level and first at the national level by a UK-based firm in terms of the largest surveillance system comprising over five lakh CCTV cameras, and of the total CCTVs in India, Hyderabad accounts for about 65 percent.
Says Krishna Yedula, general secretary of Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC): “The success story of Hyderabad can be attributed to the progressive policies of the State government, its emphasis on maintaining law and order and the citizen-friendly police department. We have the best law enforcement agency that takes up many citizen safety initiatives from time to time with the involvement of society and NGOs for sustainable and long-term achievements. This is being appreciated not only by citizens but also by others who have migrated from other parts of the country to Hyderabad, especially women.”
Through the use of technology combined with the involvement of society, including the IT companies, employees, and citizens, the police of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda commissioners succeeded in thwarting any attempts to disrupt the peace in Hyderabad in general and the IT corridor in particular. Various initiatives like SHE Teams, She Shuttle, round-the-clock police patrolling, Command and Control Centre of Hyderabad Police along with various other on-ground initiatives have made Hyderabad and especially the IT corridor the most secure and safe zones.
Bharani Kumar Aroll, president of Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA), points out that in the last six years since Telangana was formed, no major safety or security breach was witnessed, be it in terms of women’s safety, citizens’ safety, or even cyber safety. “The fact that people from all parts of the country want to come to Hyderabad and make it their home shows the trust they have in a safe environment in the city. The police department is using various technology-based surveillance and safety measures and is working with the IT industry to ensure the safety and security of the citizens,” he said.
