Pimpri civic body plans 25 acre SEZ

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has proposed setting up of a 25 hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a 40 acre science park to create infrastructure for informal science education in the city.

PCMC Commissioner Dilip Band said last Friday that proposal for the SEZ will soon be forwarded to the Centre for approval. The SEZ will be promoted by the Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority (PCNTDA).

"We will only develop the land and lease/sell to interested parties," Band said, ruling out any interest in managing the SEZ.

PCMC has also proposed a 40 acre science park to create a centre of informal science learning, Band said. This is a Rs 100-crore project and we have provided Rs 4 crore from our budget, another Rs 4 crore being proposed as grant from the central government," Band informed.

The remaining amount will be generated from partnerships with the private sector, Band said. There will be a science park in 20 acres of the space and the another 20 acres will be used to develop a water park, Band said.

The most important feature of the park will be a modern planetorium, Band said, adding that the corporation has roped in Sony to fund the entire development of the planetorium.

However, he could not offer an estimate on how much Sony will invest in the project. "Whatever is necessary to build the sanitorium will come from Sony," he said.

Band said the Corporation has involved the Science and Technology Park for the process of development of the Science Park and Director Rajendra Jagadale is leading the effort with the participation of scientists and academicians.

"The entire project will be operational in two years time," Band informed adding that a special purpose vehicle in the form of a trust may be created for this purpose.