NICE to develop township for Japanese firms

Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Limited (NICE), the promoters of the 111-km expressway between Bangalore and Mysore, and five townships along the road, plans to develop an exclusive residential-cum-commercial township for Japanese companies.

This will come up at the first township, a few kilometres from Bidadi, where there is a large presence of Japanese firms including Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

The company has initiated talks with TKM for setting up their new corporate headquarters and group housing complex for its employees at the township.

"We have held preliminary discussions with senior officials of Toyota. They have expressed their willingness to shift their corporate office and set up a housing complex for their employees at the township as it is very close to their Bidadi plant. We will work out an exclusive package for the automobile company," a spokesperson of NICE said.

He told Business Standard that NICE proposed to develop a mini township for Japanese companies on an area of about 150-200 acres. Here space will be given only to Japanese companies.

Another Japanese firm - Nikken Sekkei - has also shown interest in setting up their office in this township, he said.

"This will be the first of its kind project being done by the us as it will be meant only for Japanese companies and provide civic amenities in traditional Japanese style to them," he said.

In an effort to make the township look truly Japanese, NICE has decided to rope in Shimizu Corporation, a leading construction company in Japan as partner in the development. The township will be designed by Noburohase, Tokyo's well known architect.

"A team of senior executives of Toyota Kirloskar Motor have already visited the location and have expressed their willingness to make use of the facilities offered by NICE. This will work to their advantage as they are rapidly expanding their operations in Bidadi," the spokesperson said.

Besides TKM, there are a host of Japanese companies in Bidadi industrial area. This includes Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, a subsidiary of TKM, Araco, manufacturer of dashboards and seats, Transystem, a logistics firm, TG Kirloskar, Steel & Logistics, Owari Precision. NICE has also signed a memorandum of understanding with MRPL for the supply of diesel and bitumen for the construction of the expressway and gas to its township.

In return, NICE will give the company a right of way for laying gas pipeline along the expressway from Tumkur road interchange to Hosur road. In addition, MRPL will also get land to set up its fuel stations on the expressway, the spokesperson added.