Kolkata is all set to have a new entrant in the information technology (IT) space. 
Global technology and consultancy giant, Accenture, is currently in the process of setting up operations, by way of a software development and delivery centre in Rajarhat.
The company has already started construction work at DLF New Town Heights, located in Rajarhat, where the office would be set up, said a highly placed source within the told Business Standard.
Accenture, which had been was rumoured to establish presence in the city for the past two years, has scheduled the start of operations in the city by the end of the year.
"We have been planning to establish operations in Kolkata for a while now, but have plans have faced delays. The plan now is to start operations by the end of the year. In the first phase, we will hire about 1, 200 professionals", said the source.
For this purpose, employees from Hyderabad and Bangalore, interested in transfer to Kolkata have already been asked to requisition applications.
"We are aware that they are planning to establish a presence in Kolkata by the end of the year, with an initial strength of over 1, 000 employees. They have been boosted by the superior infrastructure and the talent pool that the city offers to IT companies", said West Bengal minister for IT, Debesh Das.
A team from Accenture was in the city, last week surveying progress of operations, the official said, adding that the Kolkata plan had been in the pipeline for a while but was delayed because of a spectrum of issues ranging from recession to operational requirement fulfillment.
It might be noted that Accenture plans to add around 8,000 people in India by the end of 2010, taking its total employee base in the country to 50,000.
Accenture has a presence in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Gurgaon, New Delhi, Pune and Chennai across India.
The IT giant has annual revenues of $21.58 billion for fiscal 2009, has earlier announced its focus on strengthening clients in telecommunications, pharmaceutical and energy sectors in the country.
