The prime focus of India’s second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) was a big push to the economy through rapid industrialisation. This was when the spadework was done for establishing an industrial estate in Tamil Nadu. The efforts led to the establishment of the Guindy Industrial Estate, Chennai. This was one of the first industrial estates to be opened in India, along with the Okhla Industrial Estate in New Delhi in 1958.
“The government proposed to open the estate in Kodambakkam, but as the City Improvement Trust wanted the site for housing and since the government found the Guindy site more suitable for the purpose they had in view, they decided on the change of location,” said a report published in The Hindu dated October 9, 1955. The report further said, “The government have decided to acquire lands in Guindy opposite to the railway station for locating the proposed Rs. 60-lakh industrial estate. The estate, according to the scheme, will provide necessary factory space and facilities to small producers by way of power, water supply, housing and common industrial aids for production, on rent or lease.”
