New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said industrial corridors are an important pillar to expand manufacturing and urged states to resolve bottlenecks relating to land, connectivity, utilities, and statutory clearances.
Chairing the third meeting of the apex monitoring authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) here, she stressed that the focus must now move beyond project approvals towards timely completion of infrastructure, land allotment, investment and commencement of production.
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"She urged States to resolve bottlenecks relating to land, connectivity, utilities, statutory clearances and the powers of project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)," the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.
The meeting reviewed the progress of projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) and deliberated on priorities for the next phase of industrial corridor development.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal; Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav; and Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog Ashok Kumar Lahiri.
Sitharaman also emphasised that the next pipeline of industrial land and infrastructure should be prepared well before the existing inventory is exhausted.
She said that industrial corridors are an important pillar of India's strategy to expand manufacturing, strengthen logistics competitiveness and create globally competitive industrial ecosystems.
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Goyal called for faster and outcome-oriented implementation of Industrial Corridor projects, with greater focus on timely investment and operationalisation.
He also stressed for focused investor outreach and stronger marketing of industrial nodes, including leveraging opportunities arising from India's Free Trade Agreements and exploring country- and sector-specific industrial enclaves.
The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme now covers 20 approved projects across 13 States and 7 Industrial Corridors.
Four industrial smart cities -- Dholera, Shendra-Bidkin, Greater Noida and Vikram Udyogpuri -- have entered the production stage.
The 12 projects approved in August 2024 are also progressing, with infrastructure development, land allotment and investor engagement increasingly being undertaken in parallel.
So far, 469 plots covering approximately 5,348 acres have been allotted, with an estimated investment potential of around Rs 2.21 lakh crore and employment potential of about 1.29 lakh persons. 134 units are already in production, while another 95 units are under construction.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised the integration of national waterways with these corridors and suggested examining waterways as a potential spine for corridor development.
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