Maharashtra set for SEZ rush

Around 15 SEZs to create 10 lakh jobs in IT, ITeS, pharma & auto industries over the next five years

Riding high on the special economic zone (SEZ) bandwagon, the state government plans to attract the investment of Rs 25,000 crore by developing 15 more SEZs in the Maharashtra, as well as create 10 lakh jobs over the next five years.

Speaking to Business Standard, a senior official from state government's industry ministry said, "Maharashtra Industrial Developmental Corporation's (MIDC) plans to develop 14 SEZs. In addition, the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC)'s cargo hub at Nagpur has also been declared an SEZ."

He said, "SEZs to be developed by MIDC have been designed in such a manner that they will attract many industries to the state from IT to pharmaceuticals units.

While designating the SEZs, we have tried to ensure that all the regions in the state get a fair share of the planned development. All these SEZ's together are expected to create around 1 million jobs."

He added, "All options like financing these projects through our internal accruals, inviting private partners and raising funds through market will be used."

Giving details of the various SEZs, he said, MIDC will develop two SEZ's at Hinjewadi, spread over 300 hectare and they are aimed at attracting IT, IT enabled Services (ITeS) and electronic hardware industry. One IT specific SEZ is being planned at Ambarnath, spread over 20 hectare. The SEZ in Latur will cover 200 hectare and has been designed to attract food processing units, while the 150 hectare spread at Nanded will cater to the pharmaceutical industry. MIDC will also develop three SEZs targeted to attract the textile industry at Butibori, near Nagpur, Kagal near Kolhapur and Chimbori near Solapur. The three SEZ's will be spread over 800 hectare.

Two multi-product SEZs have been also planned "" one at Nashik and another at Amravati spread over 1,000 hectare each. MIDC has also planned two SEZs for biotech, one at Shendra near Aurangabad and another at Jalna. These SEZ will be spread over 140 hectares. Another one dedicated to the automobile sector has been also planned at Shendra, the official said.

He further said, "Besides the state government, big corporate houses like Reliance, Bharat Forge, Mahindra are also developing SEZs." Apart from these big corporates who are developing SEZs spread over thousands of acres, some 10-odd SEZ proposals by smaller promoters which will be spread over 50 to 100 acres, have been approved by the state, he added.

Apart from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are also undertaking the development of SEZs through their respective industrial development corporations.