Land identified for six industrial complexes

The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu has identified six hotspots along the Chennai-Hosur National Highway for setting up industrial complexes as part of the proposed Industrial Corridor of Excellence.
Further, the SIPCOT has identified more than 10,000 acres of land to set up the ‘Land Bank’ mentioned by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in the New Industrial Policy 2007.
Several international and local promoters are already queuing up before government agencies seeking land to set up their ventures in and around Chennai. The Chief Minister had proposed setting up of the ICE during the last week of October 2007 to boost the State economy.
Talking to The Hindu, SIPCOT Chairman and Managing Director N. Govindan said, “We have moved in swiftly and have identified the land required for setting up of industrial township, industrial complexes, sub stations, logistics and airport. Further, we have floated a tender for choosing a consultant for the project. The consultant will be selected during the third week of January 2008 and will be given two months’ time to submit the feasibility study. In all probability, it will be ready by April 2008.”
As per the proposal, the industrial complexes are likely to come up in Panapakkam (Walaja), Iyepedu (Arakkonam), Ranipet, Vellore, Kethandipatti (Jolarpet) and Sulagiri (Krishnagiri).
The SIPCOT has three industrial complexes at Ranipet. The third unit – Leather SEZ – would be commissioned shortly, while the fourth unit would take some more time.
“In Sulagiri, we have already identified 5,000 acres of land and in Panapakkam and Iyepadu around 2,500 acres and 2,000 acres respectively. In Kethandipatti and Ranipet, we have identified 1,000 acres each. In fact, the State Government had given us five years to set up the Land Bank. But, we might be achieving it in the first year itself. These are all dry lands and we are waiting for administrative sanction,” Mr. Govindan said.
However, the consultant would state how much it would cost, where to house the industrial complexes, townships, sub stations and logistics. The ICE was being developed in two phases.
The first phase runs from Chennai to Ranipet and the second phase from Ranipet to Hosur.