Companies shy away from UP export park

'Lack of amenities' cited as the main reason

Over Rs 20 crore has been spent by the UP government for the development of the Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) in Agra, but despite being fully functional with all infrastructural facilities, the park has failed to attract industrialists.

They are not ready to shift to this park because of "lack of amenities", prompting the UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) to take action against the defaulting firms.

Established in 2001 over 100 acres in the Sikandra Industrial Area by the UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC), the park had received a good opening response from the Agra industrialists, who purchased 228 plots out of the total of 266 at a concessional price of less than Rs 1,000 per square metre. But so far, only five units have started functioning in the park while the rest of the plots lie vacant.

According to UPSIDC norms, only those industrial units, primarily engaged in the export of their products had been found eligible for the allocation of land in the EPIP and accordingly, the leather industry of Agra had purchased the maximum number of plots in the project.

However, it had been almost four years since the possession plots were transferred to the said industries and just a few units had formally shifted to the park.

The rest were still hesitating to enter the project, claiming that the EPIP was too far away from the city and lacked basic amenities like a fire station and banking facilities.

Besides, being located on the opposite side of a busy railway track without a railway overbridge, the park remained separated from the rest of the city during the frequent passage of trains, which made transportation to an from the park, erratic and time consuming.

Replying to the allegations made, D.K. Garg, regional manager, UPSIDC said the park had been recently equipped with a separate power feeder by the Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) and the newly constructed fire station was ready to be transferred to the UP fire department.

A bank building had already been constructed, which was ready to be taken over by any bank that opted to open a branch in the EPIP.

He also said the establishment of industrial units in the EPIP could benefit thousands of local residents of almost a dozen nearby villages, who would be provided with ample employment opportunities in these units.

He accepted there were still some problems linked with the EPIP including the requirement of a railway bridge, the construction cost of which would involve another Rs 18 crore, though such facilities would take some time to develop.

However, if the industrialists continued to avoid taking possession of the plots in EPIP, their allotments could be cancelled, which would also mean putting the shutters down on industrial units inside the town due to pollution concerns, since then they would be left with no other option.

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Keeping away

• Though 228 plots were purchased, so far, only five units have started functioning in the park while the rest of the plots lie vacant
• According to UPSIDC norms, only those industrial units, primarily engaged in the export of their products had been found eligible for the allocation of land
• However, it had been almost four years since the possession plots were transferred to the said industries and just a few units had formally shifted to the park
• The rest were still hesitating to enter the project, claiming that the EPIP was too far away from the city and lacked basic amenities