The proposed Cochin-Combatore Industrial Corridor, jointly set up by the state-run Infrastructure Kerala Limimted (INKEL) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation will have separate zones for individual industry, Industries Minister of Kerala, PK Kunjalikutty announced yesterday. Speaking to reporters, the minister said that the process of land acquisition has already been initiated.
It may be recalled that in August this year, Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited, Chennai had prepared the report and had already identified the land for this in the three districts Ernakulam, Trissur and palakkad.
According to the Mahindra report, the project cost is estimated to be around Rs 23,000 crore including the land acquisition component and this project is likely to attract an investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore. If implemented, the project would generate 100,000 direct employment and 500,000 indirect job opportunities in the multiple sectors.
After due consultation with the experts in various sections, the state will publish Industrial Policy within two weeks, the minister said. Meanwhile, the government has formed a high level committee headed by the state Chief Minister Oomen Chandy for the Emerging Kerala Investment Summit to be held in Kochi between April 19-21, 2012. In fact the state government will unveil the logo of the summit at Tiruvananthapuram on September 20, 2011. The state goverment has also decided to create Investment Kerala Mission by joining hands with the CII. Also on the cards is the creation of State Skill Develpment Mission.
The minister also said that the UAE consulate will be opened in Kerala shortly. "As soon as the current assembly session is over, we would initiate discussions with the overseas diplomatic officials for attracting investment in the state. In fact, Videocon Industries had promised to invest Rs 200 crore in the state.
We are also revamping the single window clearance project for the speedy implementation of industrial projects. The construction work of the proposed Smart City will commence next month. In the first phase, the investment envisaged is around 1,500 crore. An estimated 250 acres of land have been earmarked for the project. The location of Smart City has been declared as Industrial Township Area, Kunjalikutty added.
