The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) today submitted its first interim report on the Master Plan (2013-2033) for Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
Jica’s Master Plan study covers the corridor between Chennai-Bengaluru-Chitradurga (560 km) spread across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The study includes perspective planning for the corridor and detailed planning for selected industrial-nodes.
The Master Plan study is in continuation of the preliminary study (May 2012-October 2012) prepared by the Jica that identified various infrastructure and policy impediments that affect investments in the region.
About 26 prioritised projects were identified, whose progress is monitored by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on a monthly basis in the presence of secretaries from ministries like ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Indian Railways, including representatives from the state governments concerned, according to the Jica's release.
Shinya Ejima, chief representative of Jica in India, said the submission of the first interim report for preparation of Master Plan (2013-2033) was significant from the point of view of timely implementation of CBIC. The report would form the basis of further formulation of the Master plan”.
The report was presented in Delhi to the Monitoring Committee established for the CBIC project, co-chaired by T K A Nair, advisor to the Prime Minister in the PMO and Takeshi Yagi, ambassador to India at the Japanese Embassy. Officials from the government of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and senior officials from the government of Japan and representatives from the Japan External Trade Organization and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India were also present.
According to officials, Phase-I of the the corridor will extend up to Bangalore from Chennai and it would later be extended to Andhra Pradesh. The project would help smoothen the movement of goods.
Around 400 Japanese companies are operating near Chennai.
