Howrah to get 12kcr investment: Mitra

Kolkata: Howrah, once called the Sheffield of the East, will attract Rs 12,000 crore investment in the next few years. This would translate into a direct employment of 1.5 lakh and indirect employment of 3 lakh people. This was disclosed by state industries minister Amit Mitra at a seminar ‘Synergie Howrah’ on Thursday.
Some of the big brands including Titan, ITC, Flipkart and Amazon will be part of the projects announced by Mitra.The biggest investment of Rs 5,000 crore will be at hosiery park, which would start operations in a few months’ time. West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation (WBSIDCL) on Thursday handed over 14.96 acres to WB Hosiery Park Infra. “A lot of units have already started construction there,” the minister added.
According to Mitra, India’s largest hosiery park run by the West Bengal Hosiery Association is developed here on 120 acres and 170 units have already taken land in the park. Brands like Rupa, Lux, Amul, Dollar, TT will set up their units in this park. “The total direct employment in this park alone would be 1.05 lakh. The state government is assisting the project by giving fund for access road. WBSIDCL has acquired 14.96 acres for the project and was given to the special purpose vehicle for Rs one only. There will be a monthly rent of Rs 20,000,” he added.
Commenting on the Titan project, Mitra added that it has taken 20,000 sq ft in gems and jewellery park of WBIDC at Ankurhati. “It is a sourcing and jewellery manufacturing project and will employ 125 people,” he added.
Mitra also announced the commencement of ESR Uluberia logistics Park spread across 94 acres and 94 lakh sq ft of logistics space. “The park would attract an investment of over Rs 600 crore. It has already created 3,000 jobs and has a potential to create another 3,000,” he added. The investors here are: Flipkart, Amazon, Honda along with others.
Construction of five more foundry and engineering parks with a combined investment potential of Rs 2,500 crore. He also added that Rs 120 crore was sanctioned by banks to 200 MSMEs during the meeting.