The Hindu Business Line : Industrial estates being done up

Every medium-sized town in Tamil Nadu has a clutch of industrial estates around it. We all know of Guindy and Ambattur in Chennai, Pudur near Madurai and Thuvakkudi near Tiruchi. Indeed, there are tens of such industrial estates all over the state.

True, some are well developed and some or not, but the fact is that they all house some manufacturing activity and provide livelihood to thousands of poor people.

These industrial estates did not happen by accident.

They are a result of a conscious programme of successive Tamil Nadu governments and the vehicle that made these possible is the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd, better known as SIDCO.

SIDCO was established in 1970 and its main activities are development of industrial estates, distribution of raw materials and providing marketing assistance.

Guindy and Ambattur will wear a new look

SIDCO has now taken keen interest in doing up industrial estates. Some of them have, because of age and increased industrial activity, become wanting in infrastructure.

For example, the Guindy estate, which was in the vanguard of industrial development of not only Tamil Nadu but the entire country, had become a mess of potholed roads.

In the recent years, the prime location of the estate has attracted many IT companies, which sort of underlined the need for upgrading infrastructure.

SIDCO is alive to the situation. It has begun upgradation of infrastructure facilities at the Industrial Estate, Guindy, at a cost of Rs 2,225.70 lakh approx being implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle called Guindy Industrial Estate Infrastructure Upgradation Company (GIEIUC). All works are under progress and will be completed before September 2008.

Work apace

Similarly, Ambattur, Thirumudivakkam and Thirumazhisai Industrial Estates in Chennai are being upgraded under the “Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme” at a revised cost of Rs 61.10 crore approx. by a special purpose vehicle called ‘Chennai Auto Ancillary Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Company’ (CAAIIUC) and the entire work will be completed before June 2008.

Also, action has been initiated to establish Flatted Factory Blocks in the following locations for allotment to micro enterprises in Guindy, Thirumazhisai, Madhavaram and Perungudi. Flatted factory blocks will comprise stilt plus four floors. SIDCO is spending Rs 20 crore on this.

In pipeline

In addition, necessary proposals for the upgradation of infrastructure facilities in respect of five existing industrial Estates, viz. Alathur – Kancheepuram District, Gummidipoondi – Thiruvallur District, Mettur – Salem District, Thiruverumbur – Trichy District, and Kovilpatti– Thoothukudi District, at a total project cost of Rs 8.16 crore, is to be forwarded to Government of India during the year 2008-09.

The Government of India has accorded approval for upgradation of infrastructure facilities in Industrial Estates at Kappalur Phase–II - Madurai District, Virudhunagar and Kurichi - Coimbatore District under industrial infrastructure development scheme.

The Government of Tamilnadu has released the matching grant of Rs.149.83 lakhs.

The upgradation works are under various stages of execution.

New Industrial Estates

A file photo of Greaves Cotton Ltd’s new plant for road compaction equipment at SIPCOT Gummidipoondi near Chennai.

While that is the story of upgradation of existing industrial estates, there is an equally fascinating story about the creation of new ones. This movement has gathered pace in the last couple of years.

In 2006-07 and 2007-08, SIDCO initiated action to establish eight new industrial estates in the state.

In 2006-07, the Corporation established new industrial estate in an extent of 83.55 acres at Vazhavanthankottai – Phase II in Tiruchirappalli District at a cost of Rs 113.50 lakh and it was completed in December 2007.

The formation of Women Industrial Park at Kappalur -Madurai District, Techno Parks at Mayiladuthurai - Nagapattinam District and Vinnamangalam - Vellore District have been taken up and the development works in the above industrial estates will be completed by October 2008. In Theni, land acquisition proceedings will be initiated as no Government poramboke lands are available for the establishment of Techno Park.

During the year 2007-08 the Corporation had initiated action to establish New Industrial Estates at Pollupalli (Krishnagiri District), Elambalur (Perambalur District), Bargur Phase-II (Krishnagiri District), Kakkalur Phase II (Tiruvallur District) and Asanur (Villupuram District).

Further, an extent of 65.22 acres of private and poramboke lands have been identified in Vaipur (Thiruvarur District) for the formation of Industrial Estate.

Land acquisition proceedings have been initiated and development works at an estimated cost of Rs 370.00 lakh, will be commenced after taking possession of the lands.

During 2008-09, the Corporation plans to establish 15 New Industrial Estates viz.

Vazhavanthankottai Phase - III Tiruchi District, Kumbakudi - Trichy District, Kadagathur - Dharmapuri District, Vaipur - Thiruvarur District, Thandarai - Kancheepuram District, Munianthangal near Polur - Thiruvannamalai District, Thiruvannamalai – Thiruvannamalai District.

Sankagiri - Salem District, Nanjai Uthukuli near Modakurichi - Erode District, Sedapatti - Madurai District, Pudukkottai - Pudukkottai District, Vadamugam Kangeyampalayam - Erode District, Valliyur Phase - II - Tirunelveli District, Arakonam Phase II - Vellore District and Kandiyankoil - Coimbatore District.

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