Development Milestone
HCL IT City Campus Becomes Operational, Anchors Lucknow's IT Cluster
A 100-acre HCLTech campus within the IT City SEZ became operational in 2016, accommodating over 6,500 employees across IT services and engineering roles, serving as the anchor tenant for the mega CG City project envisioned by the government of Uttar Pradesh on Sultanpur Road.
| Campus Size | 100 acres |
|---|---|
| Operational Year | 2016 |
| Current Workforce Capacity | Over 6,500 employees |
| Total Project Investment | ₹1,500 crore |
| SEZ Status | Special Economic Zone (PPP partnership) |
| Skill Development Capacity | Training for more than 5,000 people |
| Services Offered | Infrastructure management, application development, product engineering, BPO, and HCL internal enabling functions |
| Location | Chack Gajaria, adjacent to the Lucknow-Sultanpur Road |
The Decision and Structure
The IT City is being built on a PPP model in partnership with HCL Technologies, with the Uttar Pradesh government awarding the IT SEZ project to Vama Sundari Investment (Delhi) Pvt Ltd., the business investment arm of HCL Technologies. The arrangement was formalized after the Uttar Pradesh government in 2013 formalized the IT City proposal on approximately 100 acres at Chak Ganjaria farms, inviting bids exclusively from leading global IT firms.
Campus Operations Launch
HCL Lucknow started its operations in October 2016, marking the operational commencement of the facility. The company announced commencement of talent sourcing, training and hiring programs to create 1,000 local jobs for freshers, with selected candidates undergoing a six-month training program conducted by HCL. The company made investments of approximately Rs 500 crore in HCL Lucknow, with nearly 95 percent of employees hailing from Uttar Pradesh.
Scale and Impact on IT Sector
The Lucknow campus started in 2016 with 800 people and has since expanded to employ over 8,000. It is the second major investment by an IT Company in Lucknow, the first being Tata Consultancy Services which has its TCS Awadh Campus present in the city. The firm currently serves 103 global clients from the Lucknow centre, of which nearly 70% are US-based.
Broader IT City Ecosystem
The campus features a state-of-the-art Skill Development Center, lush green campus, and comprehensive range of amenities designed to serve as a self-sustained ecosystem to foster innovation and bridge the industry-academia talent gap. The larger IT City project spans approximately 2,660 acres and employs a land pooling model compensating original landowners with 25% of redeveloped plots.
Future Development Context
Beyond the HCL campus, the IT City has been granted special economic zone (SEZ) status, offering various tax incentives and benefits to attract IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) employees. Upon its full completion, the project is likely to generate 25,000 direct and 50,000 indirect jobs. IT City is being developed as a state-of-the-art integrated township under the Lucknow Smart City and UPSIDA framework, with dedicated zones for IT/ITES companies, residential areas, commercial spaces, and educational institutions.
Frequently asked questions
When did HCL IT City Lucknow become operational?
HCL Lucknow started its operations in October 2016 as part of HCL's strategic vision to expand and create opportunities in smaller cities across India.
How many people does HCL IT City currently employ?
The Lucknow campus started in 2016 with 800 people and now employs over 8,000.
What is the total size of the HCL campus?
HCL Lucknow is spread over 100 acres of land and is the largest HCL campus in North India.
What services does HCL IT City provide?
It offers a spectrum of services including infrastructure management, application development, product engineering, BPO and HCL internal enabling functions.
What role does HCL play in the larger IT City project?
The HCLTech campus is a key anchor within the IT City SEZ, accommodating over 6,500 employees across IT services and engineering roles, serving as the anchor tenant for the wider IT City development.
Is this an SEZ, and what are the benefits?
The IT City has been granted special economic zone (SEZ) status, offering various tax incentives and benefits to attract IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) employees.
Sources
- IT City, Lucknow — Grokipedia
- IT City, Lucknow - Wikipedia
- HCL IT City Official Website
- LDA IT City Lucknow 2026: Sector Map, Plots, Price & Lottery Guide
- IT City – Lucknow Development Authority Official
- LDA Issues Tender for IT City in Lucknow - Business Today
- HCL Tech's Lucknow Centre to Expand Workforce - Business Standard
- HCL Tech's Covid-Hit 100-Acre Lucknow Project Extension - Business Standard
- Lucknow is Next IT Hub in UP After Noida - Business Standard