Cabinet Approves Delhi-Mumbai Corridor Involving $90 Bn

New Delhi: The government on August 16 cleared the first phase of the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project, which expects a total investment of over $90 billion during the next decade, with assistance from Japan. The Union Cabinet approved the DMIC project outline on the eve of the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunshi.

The Cabinet cleared the organisation structure of the project, including the setting up of an apex authority chaired by the Union finance minister. The Cabinet also approved the formation of DMIC Development Corporation for which the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) will initiate immediate action. The Cabinet also approved setting up of the 1,483-km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Delhi and Mumbai for high-speed connectivity for high-axle load wagons, he said. The construction on the freight corridor would begin during 2009-09 and completed by 2012. The development of DMIC Phase-I, which will cover six states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, will coincide with completion of the DFC project. As many as 100 to 120 projects are likely to come up under the DMIC alongside the 150-km DFC.

Under Phase-I, six investment regions of more than 200 sq km each and six industrial areas of about 100 sq km each would be developed. These regions are Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad (UP), Manesar-Bawal (Haryana), Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana (Rajasthan), Pitampura-Dhar-Mhow (MP), Bharuch-Dahej (Gujarat) and Igatpuri-Nashik-Sinnar (Maharashtra).

The industrial areas shortlisted for development under the project are Meerut-Muzaffarnagar (UP), Faridabad-Palwal (Haryana), Jaipur-Dausa (Rajasthan), Neemach (MP), Vadodara-Ankleshwar (Gujarat) and Alewadi/Dighi (Maharashtra).