SEZ to come up at Tiruchy

SEZ to come up at Tiruchy
Wednesday April 18 2007 11:12 IST
TIRUCHY: In a move expected to transform Tiruchy into a strategic
industrial hub, a proposal has been sent to the Centre for setting up a
special economic zone in Tiruchy, right at the site identified for the
IT Park at Navalpattu on the outskirts of the city.

The 125 acre SEZ would house the IT Park in 10 acres, according to the
proposal sent to the Centre by Electronics Corporation of India (ELCOT).
In fact, ELCOT has sought for four more SEZs, two to be set up at
Madurai and one each at Salem and Madurai, apart from Tiruchy.

While the SEZs at Madurai are proposed at Ilandaikulam on an area of 28
acres and at Vadapazhanji on 213 acres, the Salem SEZ would come up on
an area of 160 acres in Ammapettai and at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli -
on 125 acres. The proposalsz were sent on April 5, said ELCOT MD
Umashankar and hoped that there would not be any problem in getting the
nod from the Centre.

As far as the IT Park in Tiruchy is concerned the work is progressing
smoothly, except for the fact that no big players have so far evinced
their interest to set up shops. Though they are convinced about the
infrastructure here, the talks are more oriented towards the cost they
have to incur for setting up their units in the IT park. Sources said a
dozen companies have decided to establish themselves at the park, while
negotiations are still on.

Tenders are likely to be called for drafting the master plan for the
park, elaborating on the roads, streetlights and water supply needed for
the park. Apart from the 136 acres already in possession of ELCOT,
acquisition of an additional 100 acres, sought by ELCOT for Phase II of
the project, would soon begin. The acquisition is in its preliminary
stage, said Collector Ashish Vachhani.
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