Kerala industries dept builds ‘Galas’ to facilitate private entrepreneurs

Thiruvananthapuram: A successful experiment has given the confidence to the Kerala industries department for building multi-storied buildings in industrial estate for private enterprises.

This scheme aims to avoid entrepreneurs incurring heavy costs for preparing land and infrastructure. These buildings are known as 'Gala'.

Space required for each enterprise will be leased out in these buildings at a low cost. The guidelines for the 'Gala' project have been prepared with a provision for an initial 30-year period and an extension for another 30 years.

There are 40 industrial estates under the Directorate of Industries and Commerce. These estates are under the control of the District Industrial Centres. There are also industrial parks under KINFRA and Kerala Industrial Development Corporation. None of these have land available for new ventures. It is in this situation that a plan was devised to build multi-storied buildings and provide opportunities to entrepreneurs.

This method has been successfully developed on an experimental basis at Edayar estate in Ernakulam. With this, it was decided to implement the same project in other estates and make a public road for it.

Two 'Galas' have been completed at Puzhakkalpadam in Thrissur, one at Punnapra in Alappuzha. Detailed plans are being prepared for nine estates.