Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor to augment trade
A flagship programme by the Govt. of India, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) was conceptualised with an aim to significantly enhance India’s competitiveness in manufacturing through the creation of world-class infrastructure and reduced logistics costs. DMIC is being developed as a global manufacturing and investment destination enabling policy framework. The project is aimed at development of futuristic, smart industrial cities in India which will converge and integrate technology across sectors. In addition to new cities, the project aims to develop infrastructure linkages like dedicated power plants, assured water supply, high capacity transportation and logistics facilities, as well as softer interventions like skill development programme for employment of the locals. With manufacturing as the main economic base, DMIC cities will address not merely the urbanisation requirements of India but will also contribute significantly to the overall economic growth.
Heading the massive project is the man behind branding and promotion of Kerala as ‘God’s Own Country’, Alkesh Kumar Sharma. As CEO & MD of the most ambitious infrastructure project, Sharma, a 1990 batch IAS officer has served various government departments namely Tourism, Housing & Habitat Development, Industrial Development, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Indian Highways Management Company etc. Sharma has many awards and accolades to his credit.
In a tête-à-tête with Rashmi Pradhan, Sharma elaborates on projects in pipeline and various facets of DMIC project
What was the objective behind setting up Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC)? The project aims to create smart, sustainable industrial cities by leveraging the high speed, high capacity connectivity backbone provided by the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to reduce logistic costs in an enabling policy framework. These new cities will come up in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. DMIC is conceived to be developed as a model industrial corridor of international standards with emphasis on expanding the manufacturing and services base and develop DMIC as the ‘Global Manufacturing and Trading Hub’. In the first phase eight new industrial cities, two airports and three logistics parks/hubs along with other early bird projects are being developed.
How will DMIC project help to boost the Indian economy? The vision and mission of the project is to create a strong economic base for the country and to develop state of the art infrastructure, to enhance local commerce, attract more foreign investments and attain the much-needed sustainable growth. DMIC project is developed with an ambition to be looked upon as a Model Industrial Corridor of international standard with focus on expanding the manufacturing base. The underlying philosophy of the DMIC project is:
- Establish a competitive economy
- Enhance regional/urban-rural connectivity
- Integrate inherent strengths of the existing resources
- Integrate inherent strengths of the existing resources
- Upgrade human skills
- Attain technological advancements
- Create infrastructure facilities of international standards.
Please elaborate on Multi Modal Logistics Hubs (MMLH) in phase 1. As part of phase-1 development of DMIC project three logistics hubs/logistics parks have been identified: - MMLH at Dadri (UP); Nangal Chaudhary (Haryana) and Sanand (Gujarat).
MMLH at Dadri in UP is envisaged to function as a dry port supplementing not just the storage, aggregation and export/import of the industrial freight in the region but also value addition services that shall allow for finishing of goods within the facility. The facility will also provide space to host the freight companies within the campus. An integrated facility with all logistics infrastructure under one roof is seen to boost the economic environment of DMIC region to enable it to compete successfully in the world marketplace.
The logistics hub at Nangal Chaudhary in Haryana is envisaged to be developed as one of the major upcoming industrial hubs in the region and shall be integrated with nearby existing industrial units also. The rail and road connectivity of logistics hub will be planned in a manner to mutually connect the logistics park and all major existing industries in Manesar-Bawal Investment Region (MBIR).
In addition to this, DMICDC is developing Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) in Gujarat. This region is witnessing a lot of development potential and has been taken up for development on fast track basis with anchor industries. This is expected to boost manufacturing in the region. Due to these reasons, MMLP has been planned in Sanand.
Please highlight rail link projects and airport projects. Bhimnath Dholera Rail Link Project in Gujarat will be developed in the first phase. Construction of proposed Dholera-Bhimnath-Botad BG railway line will effectively link Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) with the Western DFC, which will not only improve seamless and speedy movement of traffic but also improve efficiencies in handling, transportation and management of freight and passenger traffic.
DMICDC is also developing state of the art greenfield International airports in Gujarat and Rajasthan. For airport project in Gujarat, Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared and approvals like NoC from Ministry of Defence, ‘In-principle’ approval from Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Environment clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have already been accorded. Regarding Rajasthan airport project, approvals like site clearance by MoCA, NoC by Ministry of Defence have been accorded and Airport Authority of India (AAI) is preparing the DPR for the project.
What is the estimated traffic at these facilities? The traffic to be handled at these facilities is based on the commodities and freight characteristics of the industrial catchment. The traffic to be handled at these facilities has been estimated broadly under four categories:
- DFC rail based container traffic from project catchment (other than Dadri- Noida Ghaziabad Investment Region (DNGIR))
- Additional shift of container traffic from road to rail due to DFC
- Road based demand due to Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE)
- Freight traffic due to industries in DNGIR.
The facility will be developed to primarily cater to containerised traffic on the DFC that comprises automotive, manufacturing, textiles, retail products, consumer goods, agricultural products and other commodities.
