Priscilla Jebaraj and

Sandhya Soman

CHENNAI: Roads in one of the oldest industrial estates in the State at Guindy could change for the better before the north-east monsoon with the company created for the purpose of infrastructure upgradation there likely to finalise a tender for road development soon.

Besides the roads, work on the stormwater drain network at the Guindy Industrial Estate is also expected to get over before the monsoon arrives to ravage the estate again. "Road laying work will begin during the second week of May," said K. Gopalakrishnan, director of the Guindy Industrial Upgradation Company.

Though the company had finalised the tender and held discussions with the lowest bidder, a formal announcement would be made only after its board meeting slated for Friday, said Mr. Gopalakrishnan, who is also the Guindy Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association president.

All the tenders, including one awarded for upgrading the power network in the estate, have a clause that the projects must be completed within five months. This means they will be done by October, before the monsoon season begins.

The sewerage work, being carried out by Metrowater, is likely to be completed by next month. The road laying and electrical projects will begin in areas where Metrowater has finished its work.

Costly delay

The delay in the implementation of the ambitious public-private initiative to develop infrastructure in the estate has proved costly. Many unit-holders recall the embarrassment and eventual loss of business when vehicles broke down and foreign clients had to walk through the pot-holed roads.

"I can't even take a car to my company," says J. Krishnakumar of Allfab Engineers. System engineer Sudhagar Arthanari says production often gets delayed, as most of his junior colleagues are busy transporting raw materials with delivery vans stopping outside the estate.

The financial cost of the delay is also substantial, with the project's budget having risen to Rs.18 crore from the original estimate of Rs.14 crore.

Apart from a loan from TUFIDCO, the upgradation company hopes to bridge the gap by tapping the funds of the IT companies heading to Guindy in droves.

"Ten to 12 new IT projects are coming, so we are expecting a substantial contribution from them. With their contributions, we hope to raise Rs.1.5 to 2 crore," said Mr. Gopalakrishnan.

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