Birla Edutech, which has four schools in Mumbai, will launch its first school outside Mumbai in Hyderabad and also plans to open 200 schools. “We’re looking to start 200 schools across the country in the next three years,” Yash Birla, chairman of the Yash Birla Group, said.

“We are in talks with three international private equity firms for expansion,” Birla said. The company has tied up with D Sudhakar Reddy’s infrastructure company DSR Group for its Hyderabad school.

“We’re looking at the option of a public issue as well. But the proceedings in the next twelve months will determine the detailed plan for that. We will, however, look to have this issue before 2012,” Birla said.

Birla Edutech has already lined up Patna, Gurgaon and Pune on their immediate expansion map. “We want to start a school in every district of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, we’re looking to start around 25-30 schools in Andhra Pradesh alone,” Birla said.

These schools – which include pre-school as well as K12 schools – will be “board independent” till class eight. “After this, we will either align with CBSE or any other board,” he said.