The Government of India has given the green light to develop five industrial corridor projects. These will be overseen by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), an apex body under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), situated within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This move ensures cohesion and unified development of the five industrial corridors across India.
Rebranding and Expansion of NICDIT
In 2017, NICDIT originally operated under the name Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project Implementation Trust Fund (DMIC-PITF). This rebranding expanded its responsibility beyond just the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, integrating other industrial corridors in India into its mandate. NICDIT now undertakes project development activities such as assessment, approval, and sanctioning of projects. It closely monitors all central efforts aimed at developing these essential industrial corridors.
Overview of the Five Industrial Corridors
The five industrial corridors sprawl across various states within the country. Each one holds its strategic importance and focus on inclusive growth, fostering industrialization, and planned urbanization.
Here is an overview:
1. Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) covers Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
2. Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) spans Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
3. Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) involves Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
4. The East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) with the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) as Phase-1 includes West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
5. The Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC) extends to Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Industrial Corridors: A Nexus of Industry and Infrastructure
Industrial corridors are key drivers of economic and social development, forming a bridge between industry and infrastructure. They feature a high-speed transportation network, state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment in ports, modern airports, special economic regions, logistics parks, knowledge parks, and complementary urban infrastructure.
| Industrial Corridors | States Covered |
|---|---|
| Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) | Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra |
| Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal |
| Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
| East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) with Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) as Phase-1 | West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu |
| Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC) | Karnataka, Maharashtra |
Industrial Corridors and Their Impact on Urbanization
Manufacturing is a core component in each of these projects. Industrial corridors are expected to catalyze growth in the manufacturing sector, raising its contribution from approximately 16% to 25% by 2025. As a part of these development projects, smart cities with state-of-the-art infrastructure are being developed along these corridors. These future cities will accommodate the new workforce necessary to power the manufacturing sector, leading to planned and sustainable urbanization.
