The Hindu
Govind D Belgaumkar and Raviprasad Kamila

• Whatever remains is for creating roads and other amenities, says official 
• Demand for industrial sites is increasing
• Some Bangalore-based companies are relocating to Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 13: One of the companies chosen to be part of the Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganjimatt, plans to begin with an initial investment of around Rs. 150 crore. Work is likely commence in about six months.

Nitesh Shetty, Managing Director of Bangalore-based Nitesh Estates Pvt. Ltd., told The Hindu that the design for a 2 million sq. ft office was ready. The company has secured 25 acres of land at the EPIP.

He said Mangalore had emerged as an important tier-II city where companies from Bangalore could relocate because of the cost advantage. Besides, it had good connectivity to Bangalore and Mumbai and many educational institutions too.

Relocation move

Mr. Shetty said his company was discussing with clients about relocating their offices from Bangalore to Mangalore.

On the delay in starting work here, he said that the company’s proposal was approved by the State Government only last month and the Centre’s approval was awaited. “They take time you know,” Mr. Shetty said, referring to procedural delays.

Investors interested

Meanwhile, investors are showing interest in the EPIP. A.L. Muralikrishna, a senior representative of a Bangalore-based company, was at the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board’s office at Baikampady on Tuesday looking for 25 acres for a software unit.

Preference

An official directed him to visit the Board’s industrial site at Konaje as there was no land available at the EPIP, Ganjimatt. Mr. Muralikrishna, however, preferred to visit Ganjimatt before heading towards Konaje because of its proximity to Bajpe Airport, New Mangalore Port, Mangalore Central and Mangalore Junction railway stations, and National Highways 17 and 48. It was closer to the city as well, he said.

Mr. Muralikrishna told The Hindu that although sites were available in Mysore, he preferred Mangalore. “People here accept changes very fast,” he said. He also wanted the KIADB to acquire the land from private parties and hand it over to him, lest he got into trouble later.

“We have been getting demands from information technology companies for sites in Mangalore and its surroundings,” said a KIADB official. “But there are no sites in the city. All sites in the EPIP have been allocated. We have to utilise whatever is left for developing parks, roads and other amenities,” he added.