Centre plans three machine tool parks

Machine tool parks, common in countries like Taiwan and China, is set to become a reality in India.

The working group on capital goods has recommended setting up of three such parks (in South, North and West) across the country, five years after it was planned.

According to IMTMA Senior Advisor P J Mohanram said: machine tool parks would be equipped with common testing facility, R&D centre and typically serve small and medium companies to expand their operations. We are optimistic that the Planning Commission will accept the working group recommendation and make it a reality during the 12th Plan period.”

IMTMA, apex body of the machine tool industry has been demanding setting up of such parks since 2007 under public private partnership (PPP) model with both the industry and government contribution in terms of finance and infrastructure.

Mohanram said each of these parks would see an investment of Rs 1,000 crore from the industry and another Rs 500 crore from the Centre.

While the working group is yet to zero in the locations, IMTMA has indicated Bangalore in South, Rajkot or Pune in West, Ludhiana or Gurgaon in North be considered for the parks since these have emerged as machine tool hubs in their respective regions. Bangalore is home for over 60 per cent of country’s total machine tool production of about Rs 4,000 crore in 2011.

Once approved, the ministry of heavy industries would sanction funds and IMTMA hopes to realise one such park by 2014.

Machine tool parks serve as integrated industry cluster with several common facilities for SMEs to test their products and market them. Each will ideally have three or four large companies, served by several other small companies. Each park will have about 200-300 acre area providing complete eco-systems and common facilities, logistics among others.

Each would house about 50-100 small and medium companies, IMTMA President Vikram Sirur said.