The Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved a major project to build 12 new industrial smart cities across 10 states, with a budget of Rs 28,602 crore to boost domestic manufacturing in India to revolutionise the industrial landscape, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
"The move is set to transform the industrial landscape of the country, creating a robust network of industrial nodes and cities that will significantly boost economic growth and global competitiveness," the Union minister said while briefing the media about the decisions taken at the Union cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The smart city project under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), would provide employment opportunities to nearly 10 lakh people, creating a huge scope for boosting employment.
Moreover, it would also indirectly create 30 lakh new jobs, the Union Minister stated.
"These projects aim to create robust and sustainable infrastructure, fostering investments and promoting balanced regional development," a press release by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) stated.
Location of industrial smart cities
The industrial areas will be located in Khurpia, Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in UP, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.
These industrial smart cities will be aligned with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat', and built on PM Modi's Gati Shakti plan.
Investment potential in smart cities project
The investment potential of the project, which will be around Rs 1.52 lakh crore, is prepared to foster a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Additionally, these industrial nodes will act as catalysts for exports worth USD 2 trillion by 2030.
All these initiatives are set to help increase the share of manufacturing in India's GDP and boost jobs.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Mansi Arora
Quelle/Source: WION News, 28.08.2024