Prime Minister of India inaugurated Bidkin Industrial Area (BIA), marking a significant step in advancing India’s industrial landscape, particularly in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Strategic Location: The BIA, a 7,855-acre transformative project, has been developed under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) as part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. It features excellent connectivity to NH-752E, Aurangabad railway station, Aurangabad Airport, and Jalna Dry Port.
Key Features of BIA Project
Location and Connectivity
- BIA is located adjacent to NH-752E and is only 35 km from Samruddhi Mahamarg connecting Nagpur to Mumbai.
- It is in close proximity to Aurangabad Railway Station (20 km), Aurangabad Airport (30 km), and Jalna Dry Port (65 km), thereby providing seamless multi-modal connectivity in line with the principles of PM Gatishakti.
Phased development
- The Government of India has sanctioned a cost of Rs 6,414 crore for the project, which will be developed in three phases.
- The first phase will cover an area of 2,511 acres, with an investment of Rs 2,427 crore.
- Infrastructure: BIA has facilities such as wide roads, quality water and power supply, and advanced sewage and common effluent treatment plants.
Key investments and economic impact
- The Bidkin Industrial Area has already attracted significant investments from companies such as Ather Energy (100 acres), Lubrizol (120 acres), Toyota-Kirloskar (MoU for 850 acres) and JSW Green Mobility (500 acres).
- These projects will entail a combined investment of Rs 56,200 crore, which is expected to generate over 30,000 jobs.
- A total of 1,822 acres (38 plots) have been allotted in industrial and mixed-use zones in just three years after construction.
A step towards industrial excellence
- Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the Bidkin Industrial Area (BIA) will create jobs, boost exports, and contribute to the overall development of the region. The project is in line with the government’s vision of “Make in India, Make for the World”, which promotes industrial development, economic prosperity, and sustainable growth in the region.
National Industrial Corridor Development Programme
- The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) is India’s most ambitious infrastructure program. Its main objective is to develop new industrial cities as “smart cities” and integrate next-generation technologies in infrastructure sectors. Under this program, the Government of India is developing various industrial corridor projects, aiming to create future industrial cities in India.
Benefits
- NICDP will lead to employment opportunities and economic growth, thereby enhancing overall socio-economic development. This program will enable India to compete with the world’s best manufacturing and investment destinations.
Major Industrial Corridors
- Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC): The DMIC project aims to promote industrial development between Delhi and Mumbai. While developing it, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor has been considered as the backbone of transportation.
- Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC): The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor has been considered as the backbone for the AKIC project, which will accelerate industrial development in eastern India.
- Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC): This corridor is supported by NH-4, which will boost industrial activities in South India.
- Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC): The development of BMIC is also based on NH-4 and is designed to improve connectivity between Bengaluru and Mumbai.
- East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC): The Kolkata-Chennai railway line is envisaged as the transportation backbone for this corridor, which will boost industrial development on the east coast.
Future plans
- The proposed North-South and East-West dedicated freight corridors will further strengthen the existing transport infrastructure for the respective industrial corridors.
- All these corridors will help in further strengthening the foundation of India’s industrial development, thereby aiding in overall economic growth.