more-in A project to support the growth of animation and gaming sector with provision of a host of common facilities, plug and play as well as incubation space in Hyderabad that the Telangana government had proposed is gathering momentum. Poised to be first of its kind in the country, the facility with a built space of 6.25 lakh sq. ft., forms a crucial component of the IMAGE (Innovation in Multimedia, Animation, Gaming and Entertainment) Policy announced in April last year. While the first look of the ‘Image Tower’, to come up in Knowledge City near Mind Space junction, was unveiled in November, Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd, the nodal agency, recently invited expression of interest for the project to be developed on public-private partnership (PPP) mode. First of its kind Though there are several parallels to such facilities abroad, it will be the first such in India, IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said about the tower that will play host to both existing companies and start-ups. A design for the proposed Image Tower, on about 6.5 acres, has already been prepared. Estimated to cost ?450 crore, the project components include setting up studios, production wings, production gallery and radio studio, animation and gaming labs, an auditorium to seat 500 people and an animation academy. All of these will involve nearly 2.25 lakh sq. ft. of built-up space, while 4 lakh sq. ft. will be for offices, plug and play area, incubation space and various other facilities such as business centre and cafeteria. The state-of-the-art built-up office space, the EoI document said, is to be provided at subsidised rates to first generation technocrat entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises in the fields of animation, visual effects, gaming and comics. According to Mr. Ranjan, in the ten months since the IMAGE policy was announced, there has been an overwhelming response from companies desirous of taking up space in the tower. Besides providing a big boost to the animation, gaming and associated areas, the objective of the government in conceiving the project is to create jobs. The futuristic policy, IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao had said, would ensure exponential growth of the film, content, digital, animation, VFX, gaming and comics industry and attract investments into Telangana, besides establishing the State as a truly creative hub. Highlighting the potential of the project, TSIIC cited various advantages from the low cost of living, proven experience and record of IT industry to presence of some of big names in AVGC industry in the State. Demand-supply gap Apart from the project, which is expected to take about 2 years to be commissioned, the government also intends to address the demand-supply gap of human resources required for the industry through various skill development programmes.

Stay updated with all the Hyderabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.