Kolkata, Sep 10 (IANS): The much-hyped upcoming theme townships in West Bengal are fast catching the attention of global investors, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra said here.

"Hewlett-Packard has shown interest in health care and telemedicine while Pratt & Whitney in providing elevator services," he said during the AGM of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Additionally, US-based Cisco has shown interest in e-learning and e-health solutions. Beverage firms Coca-Cola and Pepsi have also shown interest of further investment.

Mitra said 25 percent of the allotted land in each of these theme townships will be kept to develop the "themes while the rest is to be dedicated for other purposes".

He said in the recent roadshow held in New Delhi to attract investment for these theme townships, Kajaria Cements alongwith Hiranandanis and the Piramals have shown interest.

Giving an update over the progress of the Rs.2.43 lakh crore investment proposals concluded during the Bengal Business Summit in January this year, Mitra said around Rs.87,000 crore is already in process.

The government has planned to build an industry-themed city in Asansol in the Barddhaman district, an IT-based theme city in Kalyani on the outskirts of Kolkata, a senior citizen-themed city in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district and an education and health-themed city in Siliguri in the Darjeeling district in north Bengal.

Two others - the culture-themed city at Shantiniketan in Birbhum district and the sports-themed city at Dumurjala in Howrah district- are also underway.