West Bengal to get apparel park

Kolkata, Sep 6 (UNI) West Bengal would have an exclusive apparel park at Mahisabathan in North 24 Parganas.

The park, spread over 13 acres of land, would be set up by Eigmef Apparel Park Limited (EAPL), a special purpose vehicle floated by the Eastern India Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Federation (EIGMEF).

The Union government would bear 40 per cent of the total project cost of Rs 110 crore.

The park would be commissioned in early 2008.

Confirming the development, EAPL managing director, Raj Dugar said, "We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited for the construction.

They will start construction work in the next month." The Union government had earlier approved proposals for setting up 25 textile parks across the country.

The proposed apparel park at Mahisabathan has also been included in that list of 25 parks.

However, it is the only apparel park in the list, Mr Dugar claimed.

The apparel park would be constructed on G+5 format.

"The park will have garmenting, knitting, labelling and packaging units. But no processing and printing unit will be allowed there as these units create pollution," Mr Dugar elaborated.

The integrated park will be a one-stop place for garment manufacturers from fabric to export.

There would be a separate exclusive space for banks and logistics. The supplying vendors would also have a separate block in the park.

Besides, the EAPL plans for an exhibition centre there.

Mr Dugar said, "Seventy-three apparel manufacturers (all from Kolkata) are putting their units in the park and 70 per cent of them are exporters." However, the EAPL management has not decided on seeking the SEZ status for the park.

UNI TJP KK SS1228