The Hindu : Front Page : Coimbatore needs more industrial estates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 18, 2006

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Coimbatore needs more industrial estates

M. Soundariya Preetha

COIMBATORE: Apart from the five industrial estates already developed by the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) here and some sectors planning private ones, Coimbatore small-scale units need more such projects that will support their growth.

With more opportunities, the units are badly in need of expansion or setting up new units. When they go in for individual projects, these units have to wait for about three months to get electricity connection. Then they have to spend on infrastructure such as water connection and roads.

Instead, if these units have the option of shifting to an industrial estate, all these facilities will be readily available, points out K. Ilango, vice-president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association. Further, the units will be able to get all clearances under a single window system. "Hence, the units will gain productive time."

Arterial roads

In a reaction to the SSI policy of the State Government, which was announced recently, he says, "We have sought more SIDCO developed estates, especially on the arterial roads, to enhance employment opportunities for rural youth."

The existing eight estates house over 700 small-scale industries. The units in the city face several constraints and may have to move out. In such a scenario, they can relocate to the estates. "Occupancy will not be a problem mainly due to infrastructure."

The President of Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association, C.R. Shanmugasundaram, says that a lot of small-scale engineering units in the city have come up in the residential areas mainly because of lack of separate industrial estates for these units.

The one in Kurichi was developed about 25 years ago, he points out. Formation of more industrial estates in Coimbatore will benefit the small and tiny engineering units to a great extent, he is confident.

According to a SIDCO official here, the Corporation has written to the local industry associations seeking identification of land for more estates in the district.

These can be sector-specific (such as garments) or general. The SIDCO is also pursuing the proposal of setting up a park for women entrepreneurs.

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