MP Cabinet okays Diamond Park

It would be developed on an area of 254 acres with private partnership in Indore

To give a fresh lease of life to a 20-year old project, the state government today cleared a proposal to develop Diamond Park in Indore. It would be developed on an area of 254 acres with private partnership. The area would be developed as special economic zone (SEZ) and Domestic Product Zone (DPZ).

The park would fall in Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow mega industrial region which is a part of Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. A software technology park, a herbal park and clusters for pharmaceutical firms and textiles were also proposed.

"SEZ will have core area and non-core area. The core area will have diamond processing units and the non-core area will have hotel, parks, training center, hospital, school, etc. The private player will have to develop basic amenities like water, roads and other facilities like power," a government spokesperson said, "State cabinet had okayed the proposal today."

The proposed park will be developed as a center for cutting, polishing and processing of with 100% export-based operations on an area measuring 116 hectare with a total estimated cost of Rs 160 crore. The detailed project report for the project has already been prepared in 2013 but state assembly elections and general elections had delayed its clearances. Later the state government had a plan to clear it before Indore Global Investors Summit 2014 but it skipped for unknown reason. If insiders in state government are believed it would take four years for the project to take shape.

In proposed Diamond Park was conceptualised in 1995 by the then Digvijay Singh government but it couldn't take shape since local farmers had opposed it.

State government had earlier urged the Center to look into ensuring direct and shorter rail link between Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow mega industrial region and Shajapur-Dewas industrial region with ports in Southern Gujarat namely Hazira, Dahej and Maroli.