If things go as planned, West Bengal may have its first textile park designed on the lines of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu by end of next year.

The West Bengal Hosiery Association along with the State Government will set up the park in Jagdishpur in Howrah, nearly 20 km from Kolkata.

Once a major hosiery producing centre; West Bengal lost out to Tirupur following lower production costs and cheap labour.

Companies also found better opportunities there and relocated to Tirupur.

The State currently has nearly 2,500 small and medium units along with big names like Amul, Rupa and Lux operating here.

OPERATIONAL BY 2015

While Tirupur accounts for an annual average production of Rs 10,000 crore worth of hosiery, Kolkata accounts for a mere Rs 2,000 crore worth of hosiery.

According to Mr Sanjay Jain, Vice President, West Bengal Hosiery Association, work on setting up the park is expected to be completed in another year's time.

“By 2014-15 you will see the whole park being operational,” Mr Jain told Business Line.

Special purpose vehicle

The hosiery park will be developed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), West Bengal Hosiery Park Infrastructure Ltd (WBHPIL).

It is expected to generate over 10,000 plus jobs through the 170 small and medium units that are expected to be placed there.

The park, developed as a special cluster zone, is being built at an expected investment of Rs 100 crore on nearly 100 acres of land.

Around Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned under the Centre's Scheme of Integrated Textile Park (SITP).

>abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

>shobha@thehindu.co.in

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