The Hindu Business Line : Apollo Tyres plans hospital in Kalamassery

Plans ahead
The super-speciality hospital will be set up with an estimated investment of Rs 600 cr.
The existing tyre factory will be relocated to Irapuram in Ernakulam district.

G.K. Nair

Kochi, Oct. 16 Apollo Tyres Ltd (ATL) is planning to set up a hi-tech super speciality hospital at an estimated investment of Rs 600 crore nearby Kalamassery after re-locating its existing tyre factory to Irapuram in Ernakulam district.

The company, which has already diversified into healthcare activities by setting up a 300-bed super speciality hospital at Gurgaon in Haryana, is working on a similar project on its 29 acres on the National Highway-47, after shifting its existing factory PTL Enterprises Ltd, Mr O.S. Kanwar, Chairman, ATL, told Business Line.

The advantage of such a hospital on the NH-47 is that it would be easily accessible, Mr Kanwar said. It would also contribute significantly to boost medical tourism in the State, he said.

Other projects

ATL would soon be holding discussions with the State. In addition, the company has already initiated action to set up an Ayurveda resort and an old age home on its six acres adjacent to the Kalamassery factory. The proposal is with the State Industries Department for its clearance. This project would attract an investment of Rs 20 crore, Mr Kanwar said.

The existing tyre factory at Kalamassery could throw up environmental issues, as it is a suburb of the Kochi city, and hence, the company has decided to relocate it at a less-crowded area, and in the Rubber Park set up by the State Government, he said.

All the existing 1,300 workers would be shifted to the new unit, besides, there would be an additional employment of 500 people. The relocation would not result in any job-loss. The workers would be provided with free transport facility, he said. The shifting of the Kalamassery unit would be completed in 18 months and by that time the new plant would become fully operational, Mr Kanwar said.

With the commissioning of this unit, the ATL production capacity in the State would go up to 500 tpd i.e., 10,000 truck tyres per day. In an effort to reduce the fuel cost, the company is planning to set up a coal-fired boiler at its main unit at Perambra in Thrissur district. This would replace the high cost furnace oil, he said.

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