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The inter ministerial group (IMG) set up by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to examine the feasibility of setting up Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata industrial corridor has submitted its report stating that the Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata corridor is expected to benefit 20 cities across seven states.
The corridor would be built along the 1,839 km long Eastern Dedicated Freight corridor between Khurja and Mugalsarai. The IMG has also proposed to integrate the existing highway network.
The group has suggested that the industrial corridor be set up in a band of 150-200 km on either side of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.
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The IMG recommends that in the first phase every state could promote at least one cluster of 10 square kilometer which could be called ‘Integrated Manufacturing Cluster’. In this cluster about 40% of the area would be marked for manufacturing and processing activities.
The recommendations propose that the industrial corridor should use both Public Private Partnership (PPP) and non PPP approach. The first phase Central Government is expected to provide maximum financial commitment of Rs 5749 crore, phased over 15 years.
The group also proposed to set up an Apex Monitoring Authority, under the chairmanship of commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma for planning, approvals, setting up of timelines for implementation and monitoring.
Further it was suggested that a corporate entity under the name of Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Industrial Corridor Development be set up along the line of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation.
