12 New Smart Cities In 10 States: PM Modi Cabinet Approves Rs 28,602 Crore Mega Investment Plan
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Union Cabinet has approved 12 new groundbreaking projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). As per the government's latest release, the projects worth Rs 28,602 crore are aimed at elevating India's Industrial landscape and transforming it into a global manufacturing powerhouse.
The newly approved industrial zones will cover 10 states and have been strategically planned along six key corridors. The prime locations include:
1. Khurpia in Uttarakhand
2. Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab
3. Dighi in Maharashtra
4. Palakkad in Kerala
5. Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh
6. Gaya in Bihar
7. Zaheerabad in Telangana
8. Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh
9. Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan
Ashwini Vaishnaw Highlights Job Creation And Global Shift To India
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a Cabinet briefing that this initiative would generate approximately 10 lakh direct jobs and 30 lakh indirect employment opportunities. "Global manufacturing activities including electronics, mobile, and defence manufacturing are shifting to India", he added. Mr. Vaishnaw also emphasized that the shift is anticipated to accelerate these corridors and industrial area projects.
Shortly after the Cabinet meeting, DG PIB announced on X, "India will soon have a grand necklace of Industrial Smart Cities along the Golden Quadrilateral, as the Cabinet approves 12 top-tier greenfield smart cities under the NICDP."
Greenfield Smart Cities To Feature 'Plug-n-Play' And 'Walk-to-Work' Concept
The government's $2 trillion export target by 2030 intends to attract investments from major industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. These industrial cities aligned with the vision of Vikshit Bharat will be developed as leading-edge greenfield smart cities, featuring 'plug-n-play' and 'walk-to-work' concepts. These projects are in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, prioritizing integrated, seamless multi-modal connectivity.
