Govt plans industrial corridors, smart cities to boost mfg

The government today said that to boost manufacturing sector, it intends to develop industrial corridors and smart cities for providing infrastructure based on modern technology with high-speed communication.
Listing its achievements and initiatives in 2014, the Commerce and Industry Ministry also said that existing infrastructure would be strengthened.
"Innovation and research activities are supported through fast paced registration system and accordingly infrastructure of Intellectual Property Rights registration set-up has been upgraded. The requirement of skills for industry are to be identified and accordingly development of workforce to be taken up," it said.
Strengthening infrastructure, is one of the four pillars on which 'Make in India' is based. The other pillars include improving ease of doing business, focus on 25 identified sectors and new mindset.

"Industry is accustomed to see Government as a regulator. 'Make in India' intends to change this by bringing a paradigm shift in how government interacts with industry. The government will partner industry in economic development of the country. The approach will be that of a facilitator and not regulator," it said.
Further, it said that after de-licensing of several defence sectors' products, 61 pending applications for defence industries have been disposed of, including granting of 43 licenses, and advising that 18 applications do not need license.

About e-Biz project, it said that eight more Central government services such as PAN and TAN services of CBDT, DIN, certificate of incorporation and certificate of commencement of business services and Employer Registration Service of EPFO will be integrated shortly.

Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC ), it said request for qualification proposal for the empanelment of the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) Contractors for roads and services for activation area of Ahmedabad Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat has been floated.
"Final environmental clearance has already been obtained from the Ministry of Environment for three DMIC nodes," it added.
Significant progress has been made in the model solar power project at Neemrana, Rajasthan and the first batch of panels have arrived at the site, it said adding the actual commissioning of the project has been initiated.
It said that things are moving for other corridors including Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor, Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) and Bengaluru Mumbai Economic Corridor.

To revamp special economic zones, it said "mixed land use in non-processing areas to be allowed" soon.