Tracking the Progress of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Phase I

Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor or DMIC is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects of the country. Connecting the capital city, Delhi to the economic hub Mumbai, the project envisions to convert the corridor into a strong industrial hub. Given the recent impetus to the Smart City campaign by new government, DMIC has come to limelight again. Out of the proposed hundred smart cities, eight are planned on this corridor.

The project is currently in its first phase and will see the development of seven industrial belts. These would include the Dadri-Noida–Ghaziabad Investment Region in Uttar Pradesh, Manesar-Bawal Investment Region in Haryana, Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana Investment Region in Rajasthan, Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow Investment Region in Madhya Pradesh, Ahmedabad-Dholera Investment Region in Gujarat and Shendra-Bidkin Industral Park and Dighi Port Industrial area in Maharashtra.

As per the recent media reports, the trunk infrastructure plan is finalized for all the participating cities and work on Dholera and Shendra-Bidkin investment regions is likely to begin this year. The environmental clearance for Dholera is in place, and the bidding process for both these cities is expected to start later this year. Once developed, the Dholera SIR belt is envisaged to turn six times the size of Shanghai and two times the size of Delhi. Though the deadline for completion is 2019, it would be delayed due to the expected delays in land acquisition.

Apart from these two cities, DMIC is planning to move into other five smart cities proposed for this corridor soon. These would include the ones in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Most progress on this corridor is seen in Bhiwadi-Neemrana belt where Japanese Industrial Park, Aerotropolis and a Knowledge Park are already operative.

According to the DMIC Corporation, once the states complete their land acquisition process, they will start incorporating Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV's) to set up the base infrastructure in the areas. This will involve creating water and electricity connections, drainage system, road and rail infrastructure, broadband network among others necessary for industrial growth. When all such essential infrastructure is completed, industries would be invited to establish their units in the area.

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