KOLKATA: The state is expected to have its first textile park designed similar on the lines of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu by the end of next year.
The West Bengal Hosiery Association in association with the state government will establish the park in Jagdishpur in Howrah, almost 20 kms from the state capital.
Once a significant hosiery producing centre; West Bengal has lost out to Tirupur after lower production costs and cheap labour.
The firms have found better opportunities there and then relocated to Tirupur. The state presently has almost 2,500-small and medium units along with prominent names such as Amul, Rupa and Lux functioning here.
Tirupur makes up for an annual average production of Rs 10,000 crore worth of hosiery and Kolkata accounts for Rs 2,000 crore worth of hosiery.
The hosiery park will be developed via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), West Bengal Hosiery Park Infrastructure Ltd (WBHPIL).
It is likely to generate more than 10,000 plus jobs via the 170-small and medium units that are likely to be placed there.
The park has been developed as a special cluster zone. It is being built at the likely investment of Rs 100 crore on almost 100 acres of land. Almost Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned under Centre’s Scheme of Integrated Textile Park (SITP).
