Shree Natraj Ice Factory

Running an ice factory like Shree Natraj Ice Factory means your schedule is very different from everyone else in GIDC. We are located at Plot No. 279/I/B, Phase-2, Vatva. While most people are sleeping, our place is usually wide awake. The compressors make a low humming sound that never really stops. It's cold inside the main area, which is a nice break from the Gujarat heat outside, but the dampness gets into your bones after a few hours. We spend a lot of time moving heavy blocks of ice onto the wooden slides. It is slippery work and you have to be careful with your feet. The floor is always wet, so we all wear rubber boots that we keep by the entrance. We see a lot of trucks coming in and out at odd hours, especially during the summer when everyone needs ice immediately. Sometimes the water pipes leak or the freezing tanks need a lot of maintenance, and we spend all day with wrenches and sealants. Shree Natraj Ice Factory isn't a high-tech place. It’s mostly about water, salt, and keeping the machinery cold enough. At Plot No. 279/I/B, we don't have time for many meetings. We just focus on pulling the cans out of the brine and getting the ice loaded before it starts to melt in the sun.