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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of 12 new projects in the country’s 6 major Industrial Corridors, under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of ₹28,602 crore. The development, monitored by notable current and ex-IAS officers, such as Ramesh Abhishek and Amitabh Kant aims to transform several regions into “Smart Cities” equipped with next-generation infrastructure and boost manufacturing capabilities to enhance global competitiveness.

Understanding the Industrial Corridor Project

The industrial corridor project is India’s most ambitious infrastructure programme that connects different industrial sectors and cities for better connectivity and economy. This project features world-class infrastructure, including high-speed transportation networks (roads and railways), ports, airports, and logistic parks. In India, 11 national corridors are in the process of development including the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC), East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), and Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC). The advancement of these industrial area corridors will help achieve $2 trillion in exports by 2030.

Under the new approval of 12 projects, the new industrial areas will be located in:

• Khurpia, Uttarakhand
• Rajpura-Patiala, Punjab
• Dighi, Maharashtra
• Palakkad, Kerala
• Agra and Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
• Gaya, Bihar
• Zaheerabad, Telangana
• Orvakal and Kopparthy, Andhra Pradesh
• Jodhpur-Pali, Rajasthan

Significance of Industrial Corridor

Former IAS officer, Ramesh Abhishek who is known for his remarkable contribution to the Industrial Corridor project as a chairperson of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) Limited, now known as the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) said in the Annual report 2017 -18;

“The significance of connectivity cannot be undermined in any project which is aimed at sustainable and inclusive development”

• Ramesh Abhishek, Former IAS officer

This statement from the ex-IAS officer, emphasizes the critical importance of industrial corridor projects is to

1. Increase Connectivity: Retired IAS officer’s assertion highlightsIndustrial corridors aim to enhance transportation and logistics networks, facilitating smoother movement of goods and services. This improved connectivity is essential for the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial operations.
2. Promote Sustainable Growth: Ramesh Abhishek, as an ex-chairman of the Industrial Corridor project also highlights that, the Industrial Corridor project fosters environmentally sustainable economic development.
3. Benefits Reach Each Section of Society: The statement from the ex-IAS officer emphasizes the connectivity offered by Industrial corridors ensure that the economic advantages of industrial development are accessible to all segments of society, reducing regional disparities and promoting equitable growth.

Economic Importance of the Industrial Corridor Project

Industrial corridors hold significant economic importance from the perspective of IAS officers focused on policy implementation and regional growth. These corridors are instrumental in driving economic development by fostering investment opportunities, which attract both domestic and foreign capital. This influx of investments not only stimulates industrial activities but also leads to substantial job creation, providing local communities with better employment prospects. Furthermore, industrial corridors promote balanced regional development by addressing disparities between urban and rural areas, ensuring that economic benefits are distributed more equitably across regions. Ex-IAS officers, like Ramesh Abhishek, significantly advocated for this benefit of the Industrial Corridor project. As these corridors develop, they also contribute to improved living standards by enhancing infrastructure and access to essential services, thereby uplifting the quality of life for residents in surrounding areas.

The industrial corridors serve as a vital framework for sustainable economic growth, aligning with national objectives and fostering inclusive development.

Industrial Corridor Project Background

The Industrial Corridor Project was first announced by the government in 2007 and officially incorporated in 2008, with notable developments occurring after 2011. During the initial phase, former IAS Officer Shri Amitabh Kant, appointed for the industrial corridor in 2009, played a key role in the project. His leadership was instrumental in the launch of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in collaboration with Japan and the inauguration of the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

From 2016 to 2019, the industrial corridor project saw significant advancements under ex-IAS Officer Ramesh Abhishek, who took charge of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC), later renamed the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) in 2020. Ramesh Abhishek, a retired IAS officer also serving as Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), oversaw the launch of several key industrial corridor projects. These included the Bengaluru-Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC) with UK support, the East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) starting with the Vizag-Chennai Corridor, and the Amritsar-Kolkata Corridor, which utilized the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. His tenure marked significant growth and development in the industrial corridors. He focused on completion of the infrastructure projects within these industrial areas in a time bound manner and allotment of land to industry for setting up manufacturing facilities. As a result, a large number of such projects were completed during his tenure and hundreds of acres of land was allocated to various manufacturing units out of which many started production during his tenure itself.

After the ex-IAS officer,Ramesh Abhishek’s retirement, National Corridors Development Program was led by prominent IAS officers, including Guruprasad Mohapatra, Anurag Jain, and Rajesh Kumar Singh. During this phase, the government approved the development of major corridor projects and now the government of India has announced the approval for 12 new projects under NICDP, envisioned as the golden necklace of the industrial corridor project that creates a significant impact on manufacturing, exports, urbanization, and regional development.

Conclusion

The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is a major infrastructure initiative in India that has the potential to make the country a global manufacturing hub. The project is building a network of industrial corridors, aiming to improve infrastructure, attract large-scale investments, and foster a thriving industrial environment.

Managed and advocated by several current and retired IAS officers like Ramesh Abhishek, Amitabh Kant, and Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Industrial corridor has generated numerous jobs and is expected to generate many more, promote balanced development across different regions, and enhance living standards.

The recent approval of 12 new projects with an estimated cost of ₹28,602 crore will help the country achieve the outcome of the infrastructure development mission to create high-speed transportation network, ports, modern airports, special economic regions/industrial areas and more.