Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt has sanctioned the first instalment of Rs 9 crore for an ambitious integrated rubber-based industrial complex at Velloor, Kottayam, envisaged at an outlay of Rs 335.05 crore.The administrative sanction was accorded to Kerala Rubber Ltd (KRL), which will develop the facility for natural rubber-based and ancillary industries. According to the order issued on July 29, the project seeks to promote value-added manufacturing, attract private investment and expand the market for locally produced natural rubber.The project would be implemented in phases with govt support and private participation. Of the total estimated outlay, Rs 204.54 crore relates to the engineering, procurement and construction contract, while Rs 130.51 crore is anticipated as expenditure under the continuing scheme for 2026-27. The project is proposed to be completed in 2027-28.Envisaged as a cluster for natural rubber-based and allied industries, the complex will provide industrial space and common infrastructure for manufacturing units, the order said. It will focus on value-added and non-tyre rubber products and provide enterprises with facilities to establish production units and develop new products.The project is intended to promote downstream processing in Kerala, which accounts for a substantial share of the country’s natural rubber production. Expanding local manufacturing could help the state retain more of the value generated by the sector instead of depending primarily on the sale of raw rubber.The order stated that the proposed common facilities could reduce the initial infrastructure burden on enterprises entering or expanding operations in the rubber-products sector.The public-private partnership model is intended to combine govt-supported infrastructure with private investment in manufacturing and allied activities. The complex is expected to strengthen market linkages for rubber growers, encourage product development and generate skilled employment.
