An Interview with Mr. Sanjeev Vashisht, Managing Director,
Lambodra Infotech, Mohali
 Lambodra Information Technologies Private Limited
was set up in 2001 as a small IT company in Chandigarh. Today, the company has its
own facility in Mohali and is a 100% EOU serving health care sector in United States
and United Kingdom and primarily providing Medical Transcription Services. It is
currently transcribing approximately 2.5 million lines per annum. We traced the
journey of the company since inception through a conversation with Mr Sanjeev Vashisht,
MD, Lambodra Infotech Private Limited.
How would you trace your journey in setting up of
a successful IT business in Mohali?
I will say wonderful, we requested to Punjab Infotech for allotment of a plot measuring
1000 Sq Yds. for setting up an IT unit in Mohali, which was allotted to us within
6 months from date of application.
Thereafter Punjab Infotech gave us all the support as facilitating body in setting
up the unit e.g getting electricity connection released to us on priority, Excise
duty exemption on electricity, sanction of building plan on priority, permission
to operate 24X7, permission to operate during statuary power cuts and peak load
hours from PSEB etc. Due to all these facilitations from Punjab Infotech, we became
operational on allotted site within 10 months from the date of procession of Plot.
How would you compare the investment environment in
Punjab to other States, especially for Information Technology sector?
Punjab offers a number of unique advantages to an IT entrepreneur such as availability
of manpower, and low cost of operations. Still, there are a few problem areas which
need to be addressed on priority in order to build/boost investors confidence and
to make investment environment more IT industry friendly, we need to aggressively
address problems in areas like:
- Power sector.
- Need to have separate IT budget both for new development as well as up gradation
of existing road & infrastructure of IT Parks/regions.
- Need to ensure projects and decisions related to IT industry are completed or taken
in stipulated time frame etc.
Mohali has always been the nerve centre for IT and
electronics in the region. Will the location cope up to the future requirements
in terms of infrastructure?
At present the existing IT region can cope up with present requirements, however,
looks a little stretched to meet the future requirements in terms of infrastructure.
The existing IT region was planned in 70's when the industry requirement was totally
different. Widening of Roads, parking space, dispersal of garbage, etc., are some
of the areas which needs to be addressed immediately. However, with the planned
infrastructure upgradation of the ELTOP IT park in Mohali, the area would definitely
see a lot of change towards the good and hopefully, be at par with the best of the
IT parks in the country.
Availability of talented Human Resources is an all
important factor for an IT based company to survive. How do you rate the manpower
scenario in Punjab?
Manpower scenario is good in Punjab as lot of Colleges teaching IT Courses have
come up in almost all the districts of Punjab in last few years.
The need of the hour is to strengthen it up by keeping these colleges in tandem
with requirements/needs of industry and by creating special skill centers which
can train and fine tune the manpower coming out of these colleges as per the need
of industry.
Punjab Infotech has started a Single Window Service
for IT Investors. Has it benefitted you in some way in your business?
As on today single window system started by Punjab Infotech is the most effective
and help full service which is helping the industry in whole. It is effectively
working as a single window which is getting all the clearance required at the time
of setting up the unit. Further from time to time it keeps on following with us
for our future requirements and expansion plans and also keep checking with us for
any pendency of clearances/permission with any other departments.
In other words I will say that Single Window Service for us has made getting clearance
and permissions from different departments hassle free.
How do you think we can improve it?
We need to aggressively advertise/market about effectiveness of single windows services
as this will help create better investment environment.
Do you think the IT Policy announced by the Government
recently provides any real benefit to the investors?
I think it is more or less a repeat of Industrial policy of 2003, the only addition
done from investor point of view is increase in FAR to 1:3, which is a good step
and will benefit the industry.
Further I would like to mention here that the most important requirement of the
industry was to remove the frame control restrictions on industrial plots/sheds,
result of which would have certainly beautified the sky line of the IT region and
would have enhanced/boosted environment of the IT industry in the state.
What is focus of organization in upcoming years?
Lambodra Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd. based at F5-F6, ELTOP Industrial Area,
Phase VIII, Mohali is a 100% EOU serving health care sector in United States and
United Kingdom and primarily providing Medical Transcription Services. It is currently
transcribing approximately 2.5 million lines per annum.
Our focus is of setting up one of the biggest Medical Transcription center in India
at Mohali, which will be creating 1200 jobs by November 2012, for which we are setting
up a 60000 Sq Ft. state of the art facility at Phase VII, Industrial Area, Mohali,
which will be in operation by December. |