The much-anticipated Koppal Toy Cluster project in India, spanning 400 acres, has faced delays in taking off as originally anticipated. Launched three years ago with great enthusiasm, the initiative aimed to accommodate at least 100 manufacturing units, providing over 25,000 direct and 100,000 indirect employment opportunities. Despite the State government’s collaboration with a prominent toy manufacturing company in 2021, only three units, all from Aequs Private Ltd. based in Belagavi, have commenced operations.
The project, inaugurated during the BJP rule and managed by a private firm, appears to lack substantial support from the current Congress government. Industry experts have voiced concerns about the selected location, suggesting it may not be ideal for a thriving toy cluster. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who played a significant role in bringing the project to Koppal, emphasized that the responsibility lies with the company that purchased the land to attract more businesses. Shettar, now with the Congress party, expressed unawareness of the current project status.
Amidst doubts about its success, Basavaraj Rayareddi, a Congress MLA from the region, indicated that the private company should take the lead in promoting the initiative. Ramesh Chandra Lahot, the president of FKCCI, pointed out that the chosen location might not be optimal for toy manufacturing and suggested the company explore alternative projects on the acquired land.
Aequs Private Limited officials acknowledged the global downturn in the toy market post-pandemic, impacting the cluster’s operations in its first year. They expressed optimism about future improvements, emphasizing the need for time for recovery. Meanwhile, there appears to be a lack of interest from both government officials and the private company in pushing the project forward, leaving the fate of the Koppal Toy Cluster in uncertainty.