The Maharashtra government plans to invest Rs 2,000 crore for the development of 10 `five-star industrial estates in the state over the next 2 years. The sites for these estates include Ranjangaon, Kolhapur, Mahad and Amravati.
The scheme of five-star industrial estates aims to provide both industrial and social infrastructure. Industrial infrastructure would include wide roads connecting all industrial estates to the nearby cities, power and water supply, setting up of a common effluent treatment plant and telecom facilities among others. While social infrastructure would include technical training institutes, social amenities, housing, dormitories, executive hostels and recreation facilities.
According to state industries minister Leeladhar Dhake, Each industrial estate will create around 50,000 jobs. The development scheme is being executed by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). The corporation has already acquired over 30,000 hectares and disbursed Rs 200 crore as compensation to farmers for the setting up of the estates. In Ranjangaon alone, the five-star industrial estate, has attracted substantial investment.
From local industries and overseas firms. We have received commitments for an investment of over Rs 3,000 crore for various projects in Ranjangaon. These include Rs 500 crore from Escorts for its tractor project, Rs 326 crore from Whirlpool for a refrigerator project and Rs 1,000 crore from the automobile major Fiat, Dhake said. Apollo Tyres has already invested around Rs 150 crore, he added.
Quoting a recent survey conducted by Premier Ventures Consultancy group, Coopers and Lybrand, Dhake said the state has emerged as the numero uno destination for investment in the country.
The industrial projects being implemented in Maharashtra in the current year alone involves a total investment of Rs 57,966 crore. Since the economic reforms process began in the country in 1991, the state has received commitments for investment totalling Rs 1,26,172 crore.
