Hyderabad wants IT: Infosys CFO Pai

Overwhelmed by the "pro-active" government and the infrastructure in Hyderabad, T V Mohandas Pai, chief financial officer of Infosys, today made no attempt to hide either his admiration for the capital of Andhra Pradesh or his contempt for Bangalore.

"It is good that Andhra Pradesh is doing what its doing because, frankly, Hyderabad has possibly the best infrastructure for IT in India today," Pai said after an industy meet organised by the Andhra Pradesh government.

"Roads are very good. There is a very pro-active CM. Lot of investors are coming in. If you go to Hyderabad today, you see a sense of newness as if the city is new. There is a great drive to improve the IT industry. So, we are excited," Pai said.

In contrast, he chose to paint a not-so-rosy picture for Bangalore known as India's Silicon Valley. "Morale of the industry in Bangalore is low. You can't bash up people in public. People's sentiments are bad. I guess it will take sometime for people to feel wanted.

"It is good to have competition between the states. It's good for us to feel wanted because we had torrid times in Bangalore when people told us that we are not wanted. That they fear...See us as alien creatures.

"It is good that we are wanted (in Hyderabad). At least Hyderabad wants the IT industry. I guess people will go where they are wanted," Pai said.