A group of like-minded US-based IT professionals and financial experts have come together to develop an IT project in South India, where they hope to bridge the gap between industry demand and untapped potential of skilled graduates.

The project to come up near Tirupati on 20 acres of land will flaunt a world-class ecosystem for innovation and employment, besides technology.

Speaking on behalf of the NRI promoters, project promotor and NRI, Vani Kunisetty, said, “Situated at the Vedurupattu crossroad between Sullurupeta and Naidupeta along the Chennai–Kolkata National Highway (NH-16), Pelican Valley offers exceptional strategic advantages. The location ensures seamless connectivity to major South Indian cities-Chennai, Bengaluru, and Tirupati. It is very close to key industrial and educational centers such as IIT Madras, IIT Tirupati, the ISRO of Sriharikota and SRI city SEZ.”

She said that they wanted to develop the project as South India’s most dynamic white-collar employment hub. “Pelican Valley IT park is backed by a consortium of visionary private investors-mostly NRIs-with a clear mission — to generate sustainable, well-paying jobs for underemployed graduates and to create an environment that combines operational efficiency for employers with a balanced, stress-free lifestyle for employees,” she added.

The project’s first phase has been zoned by the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) for vertical development.

Project managing director and strategist, M.V. Rao, said that India’s employment landscape was marked by a paradox, where millions of graduates are unemployed or underpaid, despite IT industry facing a shortage of trained manpower. “Pelican Valley plans to bridge the gap by offering customized, project-based training focused on real-world skills rather than theoretical knowledge.

Training programs will be tailored to individual capabilities, ensuring that graduates are industry-ready and confident. Partner companies will be invited to conduct recruitment drives directly on campus, linking education, training, and employment in one seamless continuum,” said Rao.

Pelican Valley hopes to actively collaborate with IITs, universities, and leading corporate partners to encourage research partnerships, internships, and collaborative projects. – editor@nrifocus.com