DMIC's Shendra-Bidkin Nodes To Get New Highway Link

In a move that further boost the prospects of the 1,483-km Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC),  the Centre has planned to link the Shendra and Bidkin nodes in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad through a new highway under the project. 

Being pegged as the world's biggest infrastructure project with an estimated investment of $90 billion, the DMIC will give much-needed push to the to the realty market in the country, and a leg-up to the government's 'Make in India' campaign. It is being estimated that the project will bring about a positive change in the lives of as many as 180 million people, which is 14 per cent of the population.

What the project is about?

Inspired by Japan's Tokyo-Osaka industrial corridor, the project will upgrade nine mega industrial zones, three ports, six airports as well as the country's high-speed freight line in two phases. A 4,000-mw power plant and a six-lane intersection-free expressway will also be constructed, which will connect the country's political and financial capitals. Conceptualised by the Congress-led UPA government, the project will cover Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The corridor claims to urbanise 12 per cent of India over the next three decades. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2019.

Salient features

• It is a government of India-financed industrial development project.
• It will promote industrial cities as smart cities.
• It is likely to generate more employment opportunities
• It will boost easy connectivity across six states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• The project supports the mission of 'Housing for All'.
• It will be developed as a world-class manufacturing and investment destination.
• The project supports the vision to make India a global manufacturing and trading hub.
• The aim is to develop industrial zones across six states.
• The project will have major effect on infrastructure expansion.
• This will include smart cities and industrial clusters, along with rail, road, port and air connectivity.
• The cities, under this project will have “optimised power supplies and a 24-hour water supply”.
• It will efficiently recycle and reuse water and solid waste.

Who's funding?

To come up at a cost of $90 billion, the corridor is partially being funded by the government along with loans and investment by Japanese firms. A substantial part of the fund is expected to be utilised for developing better transport facilities, including a robust public transport network.

Its influence

Spread over 1,483 kilometers, eight investment regions will be developed in the Phase I. These include Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh); Manesar-Bawal (in Haryana); Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana and Jodhpur- Pali-Marwar (in Rajasthan); Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow (in Madhya Pradesh); Ahmedabad-Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat; the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Park and Dighi Port Industrial Area in Maharashtra.

The change

• The project is expected to promote affordable housing to achieve 'Housing for All', thereby benefiting the first-time buyers the most.
• The DMIC zones will have world-class social infrastructure, such as parks, schools and hospitals modelled on smart city.
• World-class infrastructure will ensure 24-hour electricity and water supply and excellent connectivity via road, rail and air network.
• The industrial projects will provide livelihood to millions.