KINFRA makes giant strides in 2021-22; Set for its 30th year of operations

Thiruvananthapuram, March 22, 2022: The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA), which is all geared up to enter its 30th year of operations, has achieved a unique landmark by successfully implementing a slew of projects in a time-bound manner during year 2021-22. The various schemes towards ensuring relief and industrial security, formulated as per the Covid-19 rehabilitation policy by the Government of Kerala, have aided KINFRA to achieve a commendable performance during 2021-22, Shri P Rajeeve, Minister for Industries, Coir and Law, said.

The 2021-22 financial year witnessed a leap in KINFRA’s achievements in various segments of its operations. Land allotments made by KINFRA during year 2021-22, till January, witnessed the creation of around 20,900 jobs and attracted private investment to the tune of Rs 1522 crore. A comparison of land allotments made during the last five years, and also the investments and employment generation statistics with that achieved during 2021-22 (till January) alone would make it clear that the growth during the single year was proportionate with the achievements made in the last five years. 
During the past five-year period, land allotments stood at 527.21 acres, while 128.82 acres were allotted in the year 2021-22 (till January 2022) alone. While the allotment of multi-storey factory buildings stood at 680,619.06 sq ft over the past five years, 3,45,800.42 sq ft were allotted in 2021-22 until January. During the past 5-year period, there were 540.00 units, 17,228.00 jobs, an investment of Rs. 1731.53 crore, while the 2021-22 year alone recorded 62 units, 20888 jobs, and investment of Rs. 1522.1 crore.
In the current financial year, KINFRA was able to perform better financially than during the previous years. Year 2021-22 was also a year of significant progress in land acquisition for the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. KINFRA has been handed the responsibility of implementing this special scheme of the Union Government in the State, towards ensuring industrialization and industrial development. Work on acquisition of 2240 acres of land has been charted in two nodes. Of this, 87% will be acquired by May 2022. An investment of Rs 10,000 crore is expected in the Palakkad node. The project is expected to create 22,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs. An investment of Rs 3000 crore is expected through the Gift City-Ernakulam node. About 10,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs are expected to be generated here. It would possible to add Rs 600 crore to the state exchequer every year by way of this industrial corridor, Minister Shri P Rajeeve pointed out.
KINFRA has also made giant strides in the manner in which the industrial parks are being implemented. The Union Government’s Industrial Park Rating System, aimed at enhancement of infrastructure of industrial parks in the country, has rated as many as five KINFRA parks the best in the South. These include the KINFRA High Tech Park, Kochi; KINFRA Mega Food Park, Palakkad; KINFRA Film & Video Park, Kazhakoottam; KINFRA Small Industries Park, Mazhuvannur; and the KINFRA Integrated Industrial Park, Kanjikode. Leading companies like TCS, Tata Elxsi, V-Guard, Agappe Diagnostics, Hykon, Winwish Technologies, Trans Asian Shipping Co and Jolly Coates have been made allotments in 2021-22.
Continuing projects
Into its 30th year, KINFRA is also going ahead with the progress achieved with regard to various continuing projects. An amount of Rs 300 crore is expected to be spend on basic infrastructure development for the Petrochemical Park to be set up by KINFRA on 481 acres at Kochi Ambalamugal on a total investment of Rs 1200 crore. The project, which has received environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, has prompted KINFRA to already allot 230 acres of land to 35 investors. Of these, 170 acres have been provided by leading petrochemicals company BPCL. The projects are expected to generate close to 11,000 jobs and an investment of Rs 10,000 crore. The park, for which construction has been taken up at a cost of Rs 150 crore, will be fully operational by October 2024, Minister Shri P Rajeeve said.
Further, the Idukki Spices Park, which is currently in progress, is a project under the MSME-CDP scheme of the Union MSME Ministry. The first phase of the Spices Park at an investment of Rs 12.5 crore is in progress at Muttam in Idukki district. The Union Government will provide a grant of Rs 5 crore for the development of the park in various stages. The project is expected to create about 300 jobs and an investment of Rs 45 crore.
Other ongoing projects include:
Electronic Manufacturing-Cluster, Kakkanad: Included in the EMC Scheme under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), this 66-acre park is being constructed by KINFRA at Kakkanad, Kochi for electronics-related industries. The allotment process has begun, and the land for the park has already been allotted to 7 units. The project is expected to create 11230 jobs and an investment to the tune of Rs 820 crore. The project will be completed by December 2023.
International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Kakkanad: KINFRA has lined up the construction of a permanent exhibition centre in Kochi, especially for the MSME sector. The master plan and other related activities for the project are in progress. It is expected to be completed by October 2023.
KINFRA Small Industries Park, Mattannur: The project is under construction on 127 acres at Mattannur, in Kannur. There are also plans to develop the park as KINFRA’s North Zone Office. Allotment process is in progress. The project is expected to create around 200 jobs and an investment of Rs 30 crore. The project will be completed by September 2023.
Integrated Rice Technology Parks: KINFRA has initiated the process for building two rice parks – one in Palakkad and the other at Alappuzha. The rice parks will come up on 5 acres in Palakkad and on 5.5 acres in Alappuzha. Construction activities are expected to be completed in 24 months, once the acquisition of land is over by March 2023.
Land Bank, Kannur: About 5,000 acres of land has been acquired for industrial purposes in Kannur. The land will be acquired in 11 land parcels. The project is in various stages of acquisition.
Since inception in 1993, KINFRA has been instrumental in pushing Kerala's industrial growth on the path to excellence. All set to make its entry into its thirtieth year of operations, KINFRA has been, all along the way, implementing infrastructure development with a policy towards staying in harmony with nature.
With a focus on the Kerala Government's Ease of Doing Business policy, KINFRA has ensured that it simplifies procedures and makes it easier for investors to start their businesses in the state. In addition, all KINFRA parks work as per a single window clearance system, and has made sure that all aspects related to promoting investment and businesses ride on simplified time-bound procedures, better infrastructure such as transportation, electricity, water and communication facilities.