Key facts
- Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) was incorporated in 1943 and is described as the first large-scale fertiliser maker in independent India.
- FACT’s Udyogamandal plant began production in 1947 with ammonium sulphate.
- FACT became a public-sector company in 1960; the Government of India now holds about 90% and it is a central PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- FACT has two production divisions: the Udyogamandal Complex at Eloor and the Cochin Division at Ambalamedu.
- Eloor, where Udyogamandal is, is an island of about 14 sq km between two distributaries of the Periyar, next to Kalamassery.
FACT in one paragraph
FACT was incorporated in 1943 in the princely state of Travancore, promoted by Seshasayee Brothers at the invitation of the Diwan, Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. The Udyogamandal plant started producing ammonium sulphate in 1947. FACT became a public-sector company in 1960, and today the Government of India holds about 90% of it. It makes ammonia, sulphuric acid, ammonium sulphate, the complex fertiliser FACTAMFOS and caprolactam among other products, and also runs an engineering and design arm (FEDO, from 1965) and a fabrication unit (FACT Engineering Works, from 1966). The history of the township itself is in Udyogamandal: the story of Kerala’s industrial township.
Who works there
- Permanent staff – engineers, chemists, operators and administration, recruited through FACT’s own notifications.
- Apprentices and trainees – graduate, technician (diploma) and trade apprentices are commonly taken by central PSUs under the Apprentices Act. Check FACT’s careers page for current notifications; do not rely on agents.
- Contract workers – maintenance, shutdown, loading, housekeeping and security staff hired through contractors. Shutdown work can mean weeks of long shifts.
- Visiting engineers and vendors – for plant maintenance and projects; many need a monthly room rather than a hotel. See site engineers’ month-to-month living.
Plant entry needs a pass and safety induction. Ask your employer or contractor which gate you report to and what ID to carry on the first day.
The Eloor area for newcomers
Eloor is an island between two branches of the Periyar, home to FACT, Travancore Cochin Chemicals and other chemical units, and often called Kerala’s largest industrial belt. It is a municipality of its own. Industrial pollution of the Periyar here has been a long-running public issue, which is one reason many workers prefer to live on the Kalamassery side and commute in. Our Eloor guide describes daily life on the island, and the mills and factories walk puts FACT in context with its neighbours.
Getting to Udyogamandal from Kalamassery
From Kalamassery the usual road route is via Pathalam towards Eloor – the Pathalam bridge and Eloor road guide explains the junctions. Shift workers mostly use two-wheelers, company or contractor transport, buses or shared autos. Kochi Water Metro also has an Eloor terminal, but it links Eloor with other terminals on the water rather than with Kalamassery, so it is more useful for a day out than for a daily commute – see can you use Water Metro from Kalamassery?
Check the route at your actual shift change – early-morning and late-evening traffic and buses behave very differently from midday.
Shifts, shutdowns and staying healthy
Continuous-process plants run round the clock, so many roles at Udyogamandal involve rotating shifts. Planned shutdowns – when units stop for maintenance – bring in large numbers of contract fitters, welders, riggers and supervisors for a few weeks of long days. If that is your work, choose a room you can sleep in during the day, keep your safety shoes and PPE dry overnight, and stock simple food for the days you finish too late to eat out.
Our night-shift living guide covers sleep and meals on rotating rosters, and hospitals and clinics near Kalamassery is worth bookmarking before you start any plant job.
A room for FACT trainees and contract staff
Ashraf Gents Hostel is a boys’ hostel / PG at Ashraf house, NAD Road, at the signal in Kalamassery, for students, staff and working men. For an apprentice on a stipend or a contract worker, the main attraction is a low, predictable cost: the indicative rate from the public profile is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance, confirmed on the call.
Photos show twin-sharing rooms with cots and mattresses, a kitchen with sink and shelves, and a tiled bathroom with a western toilet. NAD Road is on the eastern side of Kalamassery, so time the ride to Udyogamandal for your shift before committing, and ask about entry timings and food on +91 90746 23855.
Frequently asked questions
Where is FACT Udyogamandal?
At Eloor, on an island in the Periyar next to Kalamassery, in Ernakulam district.
When was FACT started?
FACT was incorporated in 1943, and its Udyogamandal plant started production in 1947.
How do I apply for an apprenticeship at FACT?
Watch FACT’s official careers notifications and the national apprenticeship portals. Do not pay agents who promise placements.
Can I live in Kalamassery and work at FACT?
Yes, many workers do. The road route runs via Pathalam towards Eloor; check the timing for your shift.
Related guides
Sources
- Wikipedia: Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore
- FACT: About FACT
- Ernakulam district: FACT
- Wikipedia: Eloor
- Wikipedia: Kochi Water Metro
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.