KOLKATA: Amul-owned Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation is planning to set up a Rs 250 crore dairy processing plant at Sankrail in West Bengal.

Additionally, Amul has planned an investment of Rs 5,000-crore for expansion of its own milk processing capacities in the next two to three years.

“The new modern plant at Sankrail food park will cost us Rs 250 crore with optimum processing capacity of 15 lakh litres per day,” Amul managing director RS Sodhi said.

The plant, which will come up on 16 acres of land at the food park, is expected to be operational in the next 15 months.

Amul will be manufacturing fresh milk products, ice cream and beverages in the plant, Sodhi said.

"Currently, Amul operates three plants in Kolkata on contractual basis with a total processing capacity of 7,25,000 litres of milk per day," Sodhi said. "Milk collection for Kolkata and adjoining markets would be increased from local farmers, which accounts for just one-third of its milk requirement," he added.

Makers of Amul branded milk and dairy products will establish 10 new processing units in different regions of the country, he said talking about the company's national plan.

In tune with global milk price crash this fiscal, the milk prices in the country remained depressed. When being asked about the probable price hike, he said, “We have had our last price hike in May last year. This year prices may rise by around five per cent in tandem with inflation.”