The Traditional Ayush Cluster of Tamil Nadu Pvt Ltd (TACT), the Special Purpose Vehicle formed by the Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) to launch an Aurvedic Cluster in the state, will likely to submit its Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Department of Ayush by the end of this April, it is learnt.

According to sources, the Common Facilities for the TACT will be established in Sriperumpudur, the industrial corridor on the Chennai-Bangalore national high way. The site was bought for the purpose by TASUDMA for Rs 2 crore and the project will commence operation within one year of sanction.

To comply with the rigid norms of Department of Ayush for setting up of a cluster, TASUDMA has enrolled about 20 ISM companies with GMP facilities as the founder shareholders of the Cluster. The Association has also roped in the services of various experts including Dr Thirunarayanan of Centre of Traditional Medicines and Research, Dr J J Vijayapal of Dhanya Health Centre, Chennai and M Deviprasad, the popular architect, for technical and other inputs. Dr Vijay Mehta, president of the Association has conducted a number of meetings of ISM manufacturers to establish the scheme.

An expert member to the TACT Scheme, Dr Thirunarayanan said the project will finish in two phases. The first phase is on a budget of Rs 10.66 crore covering development, analytical, pharmacological, toxicological labs, raw-material bank & warehouse, common processing facility, display centre and common training and conference facility. It will be completed in one year. About 60 per cent of the capital expenditure will be met by the grant while 25 per cent will be by way of borrowing from financial institutions, and 15 per cent promoter's contribution. Discussions are already on with Indian Bank, he said.

The second phase of the project will be completed in two years, which will include installation of new equipments and instruments and extension of facilities. The sources expressed the hope that the new scheme will propel the micro, medium and small industries into greater heights as the cluster will enhance capacity, reduce overheads, improve quality of products and packaging.