The central government conceptualized a new possibility where Port could be instrumental in helping an industrial cluster to grow. The firstof- its-kind project ‘Smart Industrial Port City’ (SIPC) was announced last year at Deen Dayal Port Trust also known as Kandla Port Trust. SIPC at Kandla Port is planned to spread over 1430 acre land, where 850 acre has been reserved for industries and 580 acre for township supporting the industrial sector. A specifically planned Furniture Park is also proposed that is to be laid in 100 acres of 850 acre for industrial zone. Apart from furniture other industries that are aimed to be suitable for the rest of the land area is engineering based industries, Salt based and edible oil related industries.
The SIPC will have good infrastructural facility in synch with port operations along with uninterrupted power supply and water supply.
The plot sizes are of 2 acre to 55 acres on 60 years lease base with a rent of Rs 3500 to 4000 per square meter per annum. The 100 acres assigned for The Furniture Park makes a genuine sense due to, the Kandla Port plying central role for timber based imports in India. According to Kandla Timber Association (KTA), with around 2000 saw mills and 90 plus plywood, particle board and veneer plants, Kandla Port holds 70% of total timber import in the country. Despite of the timber import centred on Kandla Port the themed ‘Smart Industrial Port City’ is finding lack lusture response from wood based industries and bidders so far. Today when US and China trade war is impacting furniture exports from China, the organized furniture making an export oriented focus, that could be a successful plan, yet the lack of interest from wood based industries has became a curiosity for the Ply Reporter.
According to reports, this unique program led by Central Govt., is ready from over a year now, industries have not shown interest yet. Mr. Navneet Gajjar, President KTA said that the rental value is too high for Indian saws millers and furniture makers and it is not workable. If the rent is ranging between Rs 500-1000/ sqm per annum then only furniture industries would be able to afford. It is know that there could be an interactive seminar hosted by the related ministry and departments shortly and probably situation will be clear in coming future.