Kolkata, Mar 3 (IANS): The upcoming mega food park in West Bengal, first of its kind in the state, is likely to be ready by end of April this year, an official said.

The mega food park at Jangipur in Murshidabad district, promoted by the state government and five other private firms, was earlier expected to be operational by March.

In the first phase, the park - about 250-km from here - can accommodate 40 units on 100 acres.

"Construction and development works are still on. The park will be ready by April-end," Jangipur Bengal Mega Food Park Ltd. Managing Director, Amirul Islam told IANS.

Construction works for the project had started one-and-half years ago.

Islam said the promoters of the park were in talks with a few firms, which were interested to set up food processing units.

He, however, declined to divulge details on the firms.

Cigarette to hotels conglomerate ITC Ltd, which had earlier inspected the land last year for a five-acre plot at the park, was yet to give a final feedback, the official said.

The food park, being built at a cost of Rs.132 crore, is expected to ensure economic and viable processing to produce market oriented products.

In the second phase, there would be about 250 acres of land in the park.

The mega park would mostly cater to the large markets in the East and North-East regions, besides exporting to the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, promoters said.