Kolkata, Sep 7 - Infosys board member T.V. Mohandas Pai Monday said the West Bengal government's decision to scrap a proposed IT hub project on the state capital's northeastern fringes was a 'sad day' for the state.

'It is a very sad day for West Bengal. The projects in the IT hub would have generated large number of jobs for the educated middle class youth of the state,' Pai, who is also director of human resource at the IT bellwether, told a regional news channel Chabbish Ghonta.

Companies like Infosy, Wipro, ITC Infotech had chalked out plans to set up units in the proposed IT hub.

Terming the decision by the state government as 'totally not the right thing to do,' Pai said the project could have generated 50,000-100,000 jobs.

The proposed IT township at Rajarhat near Salt Lake had become controversial following allegations that land sharks - allegedly backed by promoters of Vedic Realty - had been involved in land acquisition.

'The government should take the pivotal role in land acquisition for any important project,' Pai said.

Asked whether he is hopeful of returning to the state later, Pai said: 'No, I am not hopeful of returning to the state.'