Date:26/04/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/iw/2009/04/26/stories/2009042650771500.htm

Back Inkel plans construction parks in Kerala

Parks to come up in Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram

Helping hand: The parks intend to address the shortage of trained manpower

V.Sajeev Kumar

Infrastructures Kerala Ltd (Inkel) is planning to set up Construction Solutions and Service Parks in four cities of the State to provide entrepreneurs of the State exposure to market and international business opportunities in the construction field.

Inkel officials said these parks are conceived as a “one-stop solution house”. The park will offer solutions from concept to commissioning services for any organisation or individual visiting the park with any construction needs.

To begin with, Inkel proposes to set up parks in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode, and each park will be set up on 100 acres, which will provide space for manufacturing of building materials, facilities for display and sales, warehousing facilities.

The total project cost of these four parks is expected to be around Rs 668 crore and the projects will be commissioned in three years’ time. Each park will have the potential to provide direct employment to over 5,000 people and indirect employment to about 20,000 persons. The officials pointed out that the construction industry in Kerala has emerged as one of the most promising areas and there is an urgent need to make different innovative materials available, popularise the use of locally available resources and services and promote advanced technology at moderate prices to the consumer.

In order to meet the shortage of adequately trained manpower and quality workmanship for the construction industry, Inkel proposes to set up a master training facility.

The proposed facility will train all types of workers such as masons, carpenters, fitters, welders, painters, plumbers, electricians, etc, with the latest techniques in relevant areas.

Migrant workmen from other States will be attracted to this institute by job oriented/assured training schemes and this will be the first such venture in the South, the officials claimed.

The parks will have a builders enclave housing the offices of various builders and contractors under a single roof with a view to help them market their products and services better and at the same time offer the customers with the best choices at competitive rates, the officials said.

Inkel also intends to set up a construction equipment leasing and servicing facility in these parks, they added.