Consecutive lockdowns caused due to the surge in COVID cases in India and the many restrictions imposed as a result of it have stalled the investments in the project of connecting the country’s capital to its financial capital – the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
Allotment of plots to the industries in this industrial estate has been going on for the last three-four years. However, the industries department has been facing many difficulties in marketing the project in order to ensure adequate investment.
As of now, 10-12 industries have started production in the Shendra phase of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor including Hyosung and Perkins. Recently, plots have been allotted to 61 industries, Novoliptesk Steel and Fuji SilverTech. On the other hand, The Bidkin industrial phase has seen a lot of infrastructure work done, but there is no anchor project yet. The board of directors of Aurangabad Industrial Township Limited (AITL) approved the construction of a food park in the Bidkin industrial belt five months ago.
This was followed by the process of inviting food processing industries from the country and abroad. In the meantime, the process has stalled again as corona infection have been on the rise. The lockdown has made it difficult to market investments in DMIC.”
~ Sanjay Katkar, joint managing director, AITL.
The MIDC also approved the proposal to provide connectivity to Samruddhi expressway near Shendra industrial estate to DMIC.
Accordingly, a fund of about Rs 41 crore was transferred to MSRDC. However, the lockdown has been postponing the meetings with farmers for land acquisition, which is resulting in the stalling of the work, said Katkar.
Further informing he said, that the invitations have been extended to industries to invest in Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, but the surge in COVID cases in the nation is making it difficult for entrepreneurs to come and inspect the site since last year. At present also the process is stalled due to lockdown.
He said, “The food park proposal was approved. The process has gained momentum. Once the lockdown is over, the process will be sped up again,”
The DMIC project was launched after an MOU was signed between the Government of India and the Government of Japan in December 2006. It is one of the world’s largest infrastructure projects with an estimated investment of US$90 billion and is planned as a high-tech industrial zone spread across Six Indian States, as well as Delhi, the national capital.
Source: Lokmat English
