Nod to IT-enabled services, call centres in Industrial Area

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 1

UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki released the first industrial policy of Chandigarh at a function at the UT Guest House today.

Under the policy, now IT and IT-enabled services, and call centres can be opened in the Industrial Area. The other key features of the policy are allowing of service stations, industrial warehousing and launching the single-window system to facilitate industrialists in the city.

After a gap of almost nine years, the UT Administration has managed to strike a balance between industrial and converted plot holders in the Industrial Area and has come out with a “balanced” Industrial Policy-2015.

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev said, “A harmonious balance has been created while framing the policy. The policy will ensure that industries grow in Chandigarh.”

Until now, IT-enabled services were not allowed in the Industrial Area except for plots which were converted under the conversion scheme. However, now the Administration has allowed IT-enabled services in the Industrial Area.

The Administration has also allowed the industrial warehousing facility in the Industrial Area. However, UT Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal clarified that the facility would be allowed only in the case of industrial products (raw material and finished products) which had industries in Chandigarh only.

The industrialists’ demand to allow service stations in the Industrial Area was also included in the policy. Under the policy, the UT Administration has allowed the transfer of leasehold property in the Industrial Area from leasehold to leasehold only. The transfer of property from leasehold to freehold has not been allowed.