Golf course and amusement parks are part of the social infrastructure to be created in the Madurai-Thoothukudi industrial corridor, according to S Krishnan, Principal Secretary, Department of Planning and Special Initiatives, Government of Tamil Nadu.
During discussions on the corridor, foreign investors were keen to know whether there would be social infrastructure like golf courses or places for amusement.
Ease of connectivityAll those are being planned, Krishnan said, addressing ‘TN Infra: Vision 2023’, a seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
In fact, Japanese investors were told that it would be easier for them to reach Madurai as compared to Chennai, from Tokyo. There is a direct Tokyo-Colombo flight and it is a short haul from Colombo to Madurai. “It is something that you can think of as a reasonable reach from Japan, and in terms of investment,” he told them.
The corridor is aimed at shifting the industrial growth from the northern part of the State to the south. A separate company to implement the project has already been set up. It is being planned on an integrated basis, said Krishnan, who is also the CEO of Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board.
Corridor objectivesThe corridor is aimed at the development of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu with strong economic base, and creating more manufacturing and agri-business hubs. It will be a high-impact economic area along the National Highway 45B, connecting Madurai and Thoothukudi with 25 km on both sides.
The corridor is envisioned to attract investment of around ₹1,90,000 crore from private sector over a period of ten years, said Krishnan.