Hitachi, Toshiba among others selected for DMIC proj: report

The Japanese government has selected four consortiums led by companies such as Toshiba Corp, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi, for construction related works along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project in India.

The Japanese daily 'Asahi Shimbun' has reported that the Japan's industry ministry has chosen four consortiums for Japan-India joint projects to build eco-friendly cities along the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor in northwest India.

"The four groups will each be led by Toshiba Corp, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi and JGC Corp.

"The cities of Yokohama and Kita-Kyushu will assist in building water-related systems," the publication said in a report on March 25.

India and Japan have partnered for the ambitious Rs 3.6 lakh crore DMIC project which seeks to create integrated investment regions and industrial areas across six states. The collaboration include the development of eco cities along the corridor and setting up of a project development fund.

The report said that the groups would start preparations in April for landing contracts to build infrastructure such as solar energy and water treatment systems.

"Besides the four major firms and two cities, 13 Japanese businesses including NEC Corp and Mitsubishi Corp and a Singaporean water business, Hyflux, make up the groups," the daily added.

Quoting Japanese industry minister Masayuki Naoshima, the daily said, "These cases are the precursors of systems exports that will be a key pillar of our growth strategy."

The projects are part of a $90-billion Indian government initiative to build a 1,500-kilometre industrial corridor linking Delhi and Mumbai by arterial freight railway, the daily noted.

Going by the report, the four consortiums were selected from among 10 applicants on the basis of technological capability and profitability of proposals.

After field studies starting in April, the groups would carry out feasibility studies, which are expected to take between one and two years.

Asahi Shimbun noted that the Hitachi-led group would build a solar power plant in Dahej, north of Mumbai. The Toshiba-led group would build an energy supply network combining electricity and gas in Manesar, in northern India.

"In Shendra, east of Mumbai, the consortium led by JGC Corp will build a next-generation electricity distribution network utilising its storage battery technology... The fourth group, led by Mitsubishi Heavy, will build a system to generate electricity using natural gas near Changodar, north of Dahej," the daily added.