A city of furniture in the making

Infrastructures Kerala Limited (INKEL), the company formed for industrial infrastructure development in the state, is proposed to develop a mega furniture city in Thaikkattukara, near Aluva.

The joint venture project between The Forest Industries (Travancore) Limited (FIT) and INKEL Limited is awaiting approval from the government.

The one-million-sqft furniture city, with an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, will have the facilities like built up showroom space, factory space/assembly area, warehouse facilities and marketing office. Apart from this, spaces for IT and ITES, family entertainment area and food court will be provided at the furniture city.

“INKEL has already submitted the project proposal to the government and is awaiting approval for the same,” said N Sasidharan Nair, executive director, INKEL Limited.

The project will be showcased in the ‘Emerging Kerala’ event which is scheduled to be held from September 12-14 in Kochi.

Out of the total one million sqft of built-up space, an area of 4,45,060 sq ft will cater to exquisite showroom space, about 2,67,036

sq ft. will be allowed to office space, and 1,78,024 sq ft space will be provided for family entertainment area and food courts.  Power, water supply, rainwater harvesting, fire fighting, sewage and sewerage, drainage along with internal roads and landscaping will be provided by INKEL.

The proposed project site is located at Aluva, by the side of the national highway. This is just 20 km away from Kochi, 10 km from the International Container  Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) and 12 km from the Cochin International Airport. The furniture city will be in an area of 9.095 acres. According to the present estimate, it will take four years to complete the project.INKEL will implement the project under an agreement with FIT with private participation and professional support from reputed architects and contractors. The built-up commercial space shall be made available to investors on a long-term lease of built-up space in multiples of 5000 sqft.

Initial projections by INKEL reveals that an  assumed return of over 20 percent can be expected from this project.