India will establish 12 new industrial cities across various states, similar to those in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and Dholera, Gujarat, to further enhance domestic manufacturing, according to a top government official. Among these, two will be in Andhra Pradesh and one in Bihar.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), stated that eight such cities are currently undergoing varying phases of development.
The creation of trunk infrastructure and the allocation of land plots for the business is taking place in four cities: Dholera (Gujarat), Auric (Maharashtra), Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh), and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
In the same way, basic infrastructure such as power, water, and road connectivity is being built in the other four by the government’s special purpose corporation.
According to Singh, there are now twenty of these cities in the nation, with eight of them in the development stage and twelve more announced in the budget.
“These cities are smart industrial areas. With these 12 additional cities, the total will reach 20. After constructing the trunk infrastructure, we distributed the plots. The corporation receives “plug and play” kind of stuff since we take environmental clearance for the entire city,” he added, adding that the department will approach the Union cabinet for the new ones.
The state governments own the property, and the designs are ready. “We just have to approve the equity in the SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle),” he said.
The action will contribute to job creation and a rise in the manufacturing sector of the nation’s GDP.
Ashoo Gupta, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., commented on these pronouncements about smart cities and stated that this creative reform will greatly enhance city planning and industrial growth when working with states and the business sector.
“These projects will develop into thriving economic hubs that stimulate innovation and growth, having a long-lasting effect. Typically, the government builds land for industries and the necessary infrastructure. This draws in investments by providing stable, dependable, sturdy, and high-quality infrastructure, Gupta continued.
The government has also proposed other initiatives, like the simplification of customs duties, in the Budget 2024–2025 to encourage exports and industry.
