The MIT Lab, meant to explore ways in which technology can benefit the lot of the poor living in rural areas, is likely to be headquartered in Samaruddhi park in the Marol area and then move to millennium Park in Mhape near Navi Mumbai as it expands its operations. In a delayed reaction, the state government is utilising the project to re-market itself as the hottest technology destination in India. There are plans to convert the entire Marol MIDC zone into an IT and Industrial park.

The move will result in stamp duty exemption for all units in the region. It will also double the floor space index (FSI) available in the area, allowing companies to expands their existing facilities. And that's not all. MIDC will itself initiate the transformation in the zone by constructing two more IT units. One of them is the SEEPZ++ park which will be completed by March 2002 and will add an additional 3.5 lakh square feet of built-up area for the IT companies. "We are also planning to construct an IT Tower within the SEEPZ area," an MIDC senior officer said.

Although the plan sounds utopian at the policy level, it will not be a cakewalk for the government to bring about this transformation. "The MIDC-Marol region is India's Silicon Valley with pot-holes. The condition of the roads remains abysmal. For such a technology-driven venture like the Media Lab, the government will have to ensure high-speed connectivity and internet access. The government will need to get its act together," says Marol-MIDC association secretary Apoorva Patel.

MIDC officials defend the charge by countering that an investment of Rs. 46.5 crore has already been committed to improving infrastructure in the area. Other argue that it is not enough just to allocate funds. "Yes, the work has commenced, but they have to provide affordable infrastructure at the earliest. The whole place has been dug up by telecom companies to lay fibre, but no high-speed connectivity is still available at affordable prices.