Hyderabad: Expanding Genome Valley in the process of adding 150 acres

HYDERABAD: With multiple bigticket firms eyeing Hyderabad as fertile ground for business, India’s largest life sciences cluster – the Genome Valley – is in expansion mode. Already spread over 1,200 acres, GV is in the process of adding another 150 acres to make space for the flood of pharma, med-tech and biotech companies.According to sources, about eight or nine companies – about half a dozen at an advanced stage of negotiation -- are waiting in queue to pick up space in GV. On their agenda: setting up manufacturing units and R&D centres. Vishal Goel, partner, Cerestra Ventures said, “At present, roughly 3 million sft is under construction at GV.” Shakthi Nagappan, director (Life Sciences and Pharma), government of Telangana confirmed that dealings were on with several companies. “We have acquired additional space so that, once companies finalise we are ready to facilitate entry immediately,” he said.Apart from expanding base, government has also started to roll out masterplan for corridor, to beef up social infrastructure. “A prominent developer, Modi Builders, has come forward to start a housing complex in the area...also, once situation normalises we intend to meet with hotel industry representatives too, to discuss probable investments,” said Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary (IT).