Date:24/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/24/stories/2008072454881100.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Common product display centre planned

N. Anand

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation will establish a common facility in the Guindy Industrial Estate for micro, small and medium enterprises to display their products, for a specific period, at an affordable cost.

The proposal, mooted some two years ago by the State government, called for offering these units help in the form of godowns for raw materials, cold storage, common testing laboratories, quality certification facility and common display centre to enable them to face the global competition. The corporation will build a 4,000-square foot complex, at a cost of Rs. 5 crore, under the Cluster Development Programme.

The complex comprising basement, stilt and four floors, will become a reality in 12-15 months.

“This scheme was mooted some two years ago. Now, it is being given a concrete shape. We have got the approval of our board, and we will write to the State and Central governments, seeking finance assistance,” TANSIDCO chairman and managing director D. Rajendran told The Hindu.

“The State has already sanctioned us Rs. 5 lakh, while a request will be made to the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) to allot the land,” he said.

Mr. Rajendran said the corporation was yet to work out the modalities for the units to share the display space. “It could be commodity-wise, season-based, sector-wise or area-wise for 10-15 days. It will be given only to those manufacturers who can’t afford to have their own display centre in the city. We will also collect user charges for asset maintenance. This model will be replicated in other cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi. But before that, we want this centre to be up and running.”

The board has also approved construction of a multi-storey office, measuring 1.50 lakh square feet and comprising basement, stilt and nine floors. The design has been completed, and the ground breaking ceremony is expected to be held in September.

Thereafter, it will take 18 months for completion. “It will cost Rs. 27.5 crore. Out of the nine floors, two are meant for the Department of Industries and Commerce, two floors for the corporation and the rest will be rented out. We have 69 cents in our possession, and we roughly need 1.20 acres for both the buildings,” Mr. Rajendran said.