Four estates are in different stages of development

Initiating a trend in the State, industries in Coimbatore have started forming private industrial estates. Four estates are in different stages of development.

The two industrial estates that are under development by Coimbatore District Small Industries’ Association are expected to attract an investment of Rs. 2,000 crore over the next five years. The estates coming up at Kallapalayam (140 acres) and Moperipalayam (260 acres) will house nearly 350 units.

The State Government has so far given Rs. 10 crore as assistance for infrastructure development. The Association has sought another Rs. 10 crore and also all the benefits extended to industries in estates developed by the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO). About 95 % of the works are over and the estates are likely to be inaugurated in a month or so, says the Association president R. Ramamurthy.

The Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Welfare Association (COSIEMA) is developing another industrial estate. It has purchased 42 acres and the estate will have 54 units that are micro, small or medium-scale. The total investment in this facility is expected to be Rs. 200 crore. Since the estate will come up in a backward area, the units will get 25 % capital subsidy and the Association has asked for power subsidy too. It has also appealed to the Government to support infrastructure development.

The COSIEMA president, S. Surulivel, said the SIDCO industrial estate at Kuruchi has 240 units. There is no space for expansion of manufacturing facilities for these units.

Hence, the Association decided to go ahead and develop a new industrial estate. In the last edition of Global Investors’ Meet, 12 units signed MoU with the Government for this and in the coming edition, another 42 units will sign MoU to set up manufacturing plants at the estate to be developed, he said.

Apart from these, the micro units have started the process to set up an industrial estate on 50 acres. Each unit will get 2.75 cents to 11 cents and 300 units have so far given application to the Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Micro Enterprises for this project. These units will also sign MoU with the Government during the Global Investors’ Meet. “If we purchase the land, we can complete the project in one year,” says J. James, president of the Association. A company will be registered before Pongal to take forward the proposal. The Association has appealed to the Government to provide financial support for purchase of land too since this is an initiative by the micro enterprises.

Mr. Ramamurthy said when all the four industrial estates are commissioned it will lead to major industrial growth in Coimbatore. “Coimbatore is setting an example for private industrial estates. Now, industries are spread across the city and their capabilities are not completely showcased. The projects could attract investments from large-scale industries to Coimbatore as they will be able to see the industrial strengths of Coimbatore in these estates,” he said.