Inkel to invest Rs 5,000 cr in 11 projects

Kochi: Infrastructures Kerala Ltd (Inkel), a Kerala Government initiative, has lined up various infrastructure projects in the State at an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the next four years.

These include 11 projects comprising a tourism complex at Veli in Thiruvananthapuram and an Ayurveda manufacturing unit at Punalur for which the Government has the given in-principle approval, Mr T. Balakrishnan, Managing Director, Inkel, said here.

Inkel is developing a logistics park and commercial space at Angamally in 25 acres, where a 2.2 lakh sq ft commercial space will be ready for occupation by June, he said. A well-known FMCG company would set up 2.4 lakh sq ft of warehousing space. An agreement for this is now under finalisation, he added .

The company has also achieved the distinction of being the first to be awarded the PURA projects at Thalikulam and Tirurangadi, ahead of several other infrastructure companies. These projects involve an investment of Rs 235 crore over three years. He pointed out that 56 per cent of the total funds would be from the Centre; 14 per cent from the State and 30 per cent from Inkel/partners, he said.

The project was launched by the Union Minister for Rural Development, Mr Jairam Ramesh, recently.

At Thalikulam, the SPV is a joint venture of Inkel, Galfar and Kinfra, while at Thirurangadi, Kinfra is the partner. The SPVs will maintain the facility for 10 years and then hand it over to the panchayats, he said.

As mandated by the State Government, Mr Balakrishnan said Inkel has taken the lead to set up an institute to impart training in retail management by setting up the Kerala Institute of Retail Management. Inkel is also taking the initiative to set up a modern 300-bed Cancer Institute at Malappuram.

The company's mega project Edu Health city at Malappuram is in the final stages of master planning. The city, to be developed in 250 acres, will have all clusters of educational technical, general, legal and medical institutions, healthcare and commercial activities, he added.