Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354380500.htm

Tamil Nadu

SIDCO plans integrated convenience complexes

Staff Reporter

Dedicated fuel stations planned at big industrial estates

Photo: M. Balaji

Initiative: D. Rajendran, managing director, Tamil Nadu SIDCO, speaking at a workshop organsied by Textiles Committee inTirupur on Tuesday. –

Tirupur: The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (SIDCO) plans to establish ‘integrated convenience complexes’ on its industrial estate premises in a phased manner starting next financial year (2009-10), according to D. Rajendran, Managing Director, SIDCO.

Speaking at a national-level workshop on ‘building competitiveness through quality’ organised by Textiles Committee of Union Ministry of Textiles here on Tuesday, he said that the proposed complexes would have facilities such as bathrooms, toilets, drinking water and locker rooms for the benefit of workers, visitors and other users of industrial estates.

“For a starter, the facilities will be set up near the bus terminuses situated within select large-sized SIDCO industrial estates in the state,” he added. Non-governmental agencies would be entrusted with the maintenance and daily operation of the complex. Similarly, plans were afoot to establish dedicated fuel stations on big industrial estate premises.

The SIDCO would promote the project along with the state government and units functioning within the respective estates.

Mr Rajendran said that the SIDCO plans to commission 20 more industrial estates being established at a cost of Rs. 60 crore during the next financial year, taking the total number of such estates set up by the Corporation in the state to 98. Each of the new estates would be spread over a minimum of 50 acres and it would house 70 to 80 industrial units. D. Dhandapani, deputy director of Textiles Committee and Ahill Rathinasamy, president, Knit Cloth Manufacturers Association, spoke.