MindTree Limited, a global IT and Product Engineering Services Company, started work on its 20-acre campus, to be named MindTree Kalinga, in the Chandaka Special Economic Zone here on Thursday. The campus would be built in a phased manner and the first phase of 2,00,000 square feet will be completed in 2013.

Students from various local educational institutions poured earth specially brought in from different corners of the world at the base of a Krishna Ficus tree at the proposed site. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik placed the earth from the State and welcomed MindTree with the comment that entry of high quality organisations to the State helps the economy and the intellectual eco-system too.

MindTree vice-chairman Subroto Bagchi commended several Government agencies for getting MindTree Kalinga off the ground and promised a world-class centre that would train and deploy some of the best minds of the eastern region.