The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by the Prime Minister approved the setting up of 12 industrial smart cities on Wednesday, 28th August. The estimated budget for an investment of this sort is Rs 28,500 crores. It is expected to generate employment sources, directly and indirectly, for the youth. This decision has been taken under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP).
Areas to be included in the project
The 12 areas to be developed into smart cities are spread throughout the nation and have been selected on the basis of their potential to house and support economic growth and development. The outline and model of the city would be eco-friendly, and would be built on a ‘walk to work’ concept.
The list of these 12 industrial cities includes Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Rajpura in Punjab, Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar, Eighi Port Industrial Area in Maharashtra, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Koparthy and Oravakal in Andhra Pradesh, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Palakkad in Kerala and Jamshedpur-Purulia-Asansol.
Key Features of the Industrial Cities
These smart cities are supposed to be ecosystems for investments and businesses to grow. Union Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced that these projects have the potential of inviting investments worth of Rs 1.52 lakh crores.
These cities will be developed with modern infrastructural and environmental demands in mind. The ‘walk to work’ concept implies that these cities will be walk-able in nature, ensuring that there is minimal pollution created through transportation during daily commutes. This also ensures a better quality of life for its residents since all amenities would be available at a reasonable distance.
The areas for these industrial cities have been chosen with great detail. These areas are supposed to drive the growth and development in the entire region. This fulfills the objective of reducing regional disparities and promoting equitable development.
The city plans also aim to employ sustainable development practices. The outline of the city has been made with environmental consciousness in mind. Green technologies and sustainable uses of energy are just some practices that the board aims to implement.
This project is a manifestation of the larger goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (a developed India). These projects will make India stand out as an economic hub attracting investment. This will not only help bolster India’s economy but also help in providing sustained livelihood and better quality of life to its people. This also aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. With such economic hubs coming up, India would be self-sufficient in producing goods and providing employment for its people.
