Govt announces new 12 industrial smart cities under NICD programme

New smart cities announced: Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme, the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved 12 new industrial smart cities with an investment of Rs 28,602 crore. 

The new smart cities will be spread across the country in 10 states, positioned strategically along six major corridors. 

“By positioning India as a strong player in the Global Value Chains (GVC), the NICDP will provide developed land parcels ready for immediate allotment, making it easier for domestic and international investors to set up manufacturing units in India,”  the announcement stated. 

The new industrial smart cities 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), and Jodhpur-Pali (Rajasthan). 

The expansion of smart cities aims to boost the network of industrial nodes that will empower local manufacturing capacities leading to new highs of economic growth. 

Principal spokesperson of the Government of India Dhirendra Ojha tweeted “India to soon have a grand necklace of Industrial Smart Cities on the backbone of Golden Quadrilateral as #Cabinet approves 12 world-class greenfield Industrial Smart Cities under National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.”

The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is likely to generate major employment in the planned cities with the possibility of nearly 1 million new direct jobs and three million indirect jobs being created. 

“This will not only provide livelihood opportunities but also contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of the regions where these projects are being implemented,” the ministry stated in a press release. 

The cities will be built as greenfield smart cities which will ensure that they follow the global standards and include plug-n-play and walk-to-work concepts.