Mumbai: Infosys Technologies, India''s second largest software company, is investing over Rs300 crore to set up a development centre in Kerala. The company has commenced work on its first campus in Thiruvananthapuram, involving an investment of Rs306 crore.

Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the development centre. Infosys has been operating out of a leased facility in Thiruvananthapuram since 2004.

With the completion of the new facility, Infosys will have two full-fledged operations in the city.

With the new unit under operation, Infosys hopes to create a capacity to seat 1,500 employees in the first year itself.

The existing facility at the Technopark campus in Thiruvananthapuram has a capacity of 1,100 seats and has seen an investment of Rs30 crore, as of March 31, 2007.

"The campus will include facilities for work and recreation for our employees. We expect to create 8,000 seats at this centre over the next few years," K Dinesh, co-founder and member of the board, Infosys Technologies, said.

"This development centre has a world-class work environment designed to enhance productivity and efficiency. Infosys has also leased 40,000 sq. ft. of space in the Thejaswini Block at Technopark for expansion," Infosys said.

"Kerala is emerging as a key IT destination in south India. Infosys ramping up its presence in our state is a reaffirmation of this fact. The magnitude of Infosys'' investment in its development centre demonstrates its long-term commitment towards Kerala and speaks volumes about the world-class facilities on offer here for its employees," chief minister Achuthanandan said.