Visaka's garments unit likely to go on stream by year-end

Visaka Industries Limited (VIL) is expecting to commence production of its garments manufacturing unit, being set up at a cost of Rs 55 crore in the Mahendra Special Economic Zone in Chennai, by the end of this year.

VIL managing director G Vivekanand said that the pace of work on the project had gained momentum and recruitment of key personnel is in progress. Civil works are expected to commence by the end of next month.

Vivekanand told newspersons on Wednesday that following the execution of the 4-million pieces per year garments manufacturing project, VIL is likely to emerge as a predominant textile company in three to four years. The project would engage 3,000 workers, most of whom would be women.

Currently, 60 per cent of the turnover of the company is from its fibre cement sheets division while the remaining is from the textile division. The textile division is expected to account for 60 per cent of the company's turnover a few years later, he said.

At present, VIL's textile division has a capacity to produce 7 million kg of synthetic blended yarn annually. Its major clients include Siyaram Silk Mills, Grasim, Raymond's, Santogen Mills, Harry's Collection, Indian Rayon and Bhilwara group.

VIL recently completed the expansion project of its fibre cement sheets division at Tumkur in Karnataka. The unit commenced commercial production from March 1, 2005. The division has manufacturing facilities in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal besides Karnataka.