CM inaugurates infrastructure facilities at Arignar Anna Cooperative Industrial Estate in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated -- through video conference -- basic infrastructure facilities worth Rs 24.61 crore at the Arignar Anna Co-operative Industrial Estate, spread across 316.04 acres in Kittampalayam in Coimbatore district. According to officials, the estate is expected to provide direct employment to around 10,000 people. District collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar participated in the event at Kittampalayam and planted saplings in the industrial estate. He said in the 2021–22 state budget, the minister for micro, small, and medium enterprises announced a plan to improve infrastructure facilities in the estate. Under this initiative, roads, small bridges, borewells, water pipelines, two overhead tanks with a capacity of one lakh litres each, and an office building were developed at a total cost of Rs 24.61 crore. “This project will benefit micro and small enterprises, providing employment to more than 10,000 people in Coimbatore and the surrounding districts,” the collector said.He added that more than 15,000 saplings were planted in the estate and were being well maintained. On Tuesday, sapling plantation was also initiated along both sides of the 15km road where the estate is located. According to officials from the District Industries Centre, members of the estate acquired 316.04 acres in 2006 --comprising 35.4 acres at Thekkalur in Tirupur district and 280.64 acres in Coimbatore district -- for developing an MSME industrial estate. However, the project saw little progress until it was revived in 2021. Of the total funding, the govt allocated Rs 12.30 crore, while the remaining amount was contributed by the stakeholders.