The Hindu Business Line : Tripura industrial estate attracts Rs 500-cr investments

The Bodhjung Nagar industrial estate of Tripura (West), foundation stone for which was laid on November 27, 1997 by former State Chief Minister, Mr Dasarath Deb, has already attracted investments on the ground of over Rs 500 crore, with some Rs 250 crore more in the pipeline. Some 11 units are already functioning and many more projects are under various stages of implementation.

The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, talking to newspersons in Agartala recently, after a visit of the industrial centre, said that the investments were a revelation, as the popular perception based on studies by top consultancy firms was that Tripura was hardly receiving any industrial investments.

The Minister particularly cited the Rs 16-crore investments on a cement clinker unit by Narayan Kar Associates, already producing 300 tonnes a day and supplying mainly to the Railways.

Other investments

Among the other major investments, which have fructified into functioning projects are the Rs 80-crore Rubber Thread factory set up by the Dharampal Satyapal Group, the Rs 214-crore Cold Rolled Steel Coils & Sheets unit of Dharampal Premchand Ltd (first phase completed) and Rs 7.29-crore Foam Manufacturing project of R.S. Foam Industries.

He said a major industrial infrastructure project was now coming up at the estate, covering a land area of 535.74 acres. Besides an industrial growth centre, at an area of 204 acres, some of the other projects include a Food Park (30 acres), Export Promotion Industrial Park (126.12 acres), Rubber Park ( 50 acres), Mini Tool Room & Training Centre ( 8 acres) and Extended Growth Centre (117.62 acres).

According to Mr Lok Ranjan, the State Industry Secretary, the principal issues at Bodhjung Nagar, now attracting the Government's full attention were upgradation of 33 kv to 132 kv substation, provision of a bank and post office/hospital under ESI, effluent treatment plant at site, project-based employment and development of road network. The Khyerpur to growth centre road work has already been taken up by the State PWD, and fund mobilisation is being envisaged for the Banikya Chowmuhani to EPIP road.

Food Park

A Food Park at a cost of Rs 7.07 crore is coming up at the Growth Centre in a total land area of 30 acres. The common facilities being provided include a 1500 metric tonne multi-chambered Freon-based cold storage, sorting-grading-packing facilities, warehousing, lab facility for testing, plastic bottle manufacturing and packaging facilities.

A Rs 10-crore Export Promotion Industrial Park project is coming up on total land of 126.12 acres, and will have besides the administrative block, a separate customs and excise facility.

The Growth Centre, located 23 km from Agartala airport, and 12 km from city, will have the nearest railway station (proposed) at a distance of only 7 km.

The distance to Bodhjung Nagar from the Agartala Land Custom Station is said to be around 14 km. Tripura has 864 km of border with Bangladesh.

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