Videocon to finalise multi-product SEZ in Siliguri

Kolkata, Oct 19: West Bengal is all set to get a new multi- product SEZ in Siliguri to be developed by the Videocon Group.

Videocon's Director Anirudh Dhoot told reporters that he would visit Siliguri on November 24 to examine the possible sites identified by the state government for the project.

A minimum of 100 acres of land is required for the SEZ, Mr Dhoot said while inaugurating the city's first electronics mall christened as "Technocity" developed by Great Eastern Appliances Pvt Ltd.

State's Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya said Videocon group would be shown land at Phulbari, Phansidawa and Rangapani in North Bengal for the proposed SEZ.

Videocon has already got the go-ahead from the Board of Approvals for three SEZs in the state. These include multi-product SEZs at both the North 24-Parganas and the Kharagpur-Kolkata stretch and an SEZ dedicated to electronics and IT in the North 24-Parganas.

Mr Dhoot, who is also Managing Director of Electrolux Kelvinator, said the multi-product SEZ would have an IT park, hotel, sports city apart from manufacturing and housing projects.

The group has lined up around Rs 200-500 crore for the SEZ projects in the state, he said.

Videocon is already developing an electronic goods product centre at Siliguri. The company would produce computers, TVs and washing machines in the centre having a capacity of one lakh units.

The total investment in the project is around Rs 200 crore in the next two years. The company has already taken over a closed unit.

Mr Dhoot said his group would also develop two multi-product SEZs at Pune and Mumbai in Maharashtra, which would have a film studio.

The company has lined up around Rs 1000 crore investment for the proposed SEZs at Maharashtra.

He said the group has initiated talks with the Tamil Nadu government for a SEZ in south India.

UNI