The Hindu Business Line : Mahindra plans to spread out ‘world city’ model

Chennai, Nov. 12 With space in the 1,500-acre Mahindra World City-New Chennai, the integrated business city, nearly leased out, the Mahindra group is planning to expand the ‘world city’ concept to more locations in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

According to company officials, the Mahindra Group has plans to replicate this model of an integrated business city with industrial, residential and social infrastructure in a second location near Chennai – at Gummidipoondi to the north -- and tier-II cities in Tamil Nadu.

Another Mahindra World City is coming up in Jaipur, this would the second world city to be implemented. There are plans to set up similar facilities in Pune and Thane. The company is also exploring locations abroad, officials said.

The Rs 1,800-crore Mahindra World City-New Chennai, a 1,500-acre facility with three sector-specific SEZs for IT-ITeS, auto ancillary and apparel and fashion accessories, apart from commercial and residential areas, is a joint venture between Mahindra Lifespaces and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.

The industrial space at this facility, 45 km from Chennai on NH 45, has almost fully been leased out to over 45 marquee customers from the US, Europe and Asia, and there is more demand for space, so the promoters have decided on the expansion, they said.

Gummidipoondi facility

Officials said that the extended facility coming up in over 1,000 acres near Gummidipoondi, abutting NH 5, an industrial area to the north of Chennai, will provide facilities for light engineering and engineering industries that generate more ‘blue collar’ jobs in line with the potential assessed for the area. The plans are at a preliminary stage, with market survey being done for the exact structure of the project.

Company officials said that the focus now at the existing Mahindra World City-New Chennai, would be to grow the social and residential infrastructure. Over 325 acres has been earmarked for residential area with HOK International, US, doing the master plan for a community of more than 6,000 families — more than 20 companies have started operations with over 11,000 employed and more are expected.

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