Indore: DMIC’s early bird projects moves at snail’s pace

All the “early bird projects” under Pithampur investment node of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project are moving at a snail’s pace due to one reason or other.

The economic corridor between Indore Airport and Pithampur industrial area is facing delay due to the problem in land acquisition, as a section of farmers have moved court.

The state government, which owns a portion of land needed for the project, is finding it difficult to acquire additional land of the farmers as the land acquisition amendment bill is stuck in Rajya Sabha.

Another early bird project to supply water from Narmada-Kshipra link to the Pithampur industrial area is caught in bureaucratic delays.

Even as the Pithampur industrial area reels under an acute water shortage, the state government is now going for another round of tendering process for selecting a project consultant.

The government had in February this year initiated the process of building infrastructure to supply water to Pithampur industrial area.

“No company could meet the criteria during an earlier round of tendering process, so a fresh round (of tendering process) will take place,” said an official of Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (AKVN), the government’s nodal agency.

The industry is concerned over the prolonged delay. “The sense of urgency needed to expedite the projects is missing and industry is facing the brunt,” Pithampur Audyogik Sangathan president Gautam Kothari said.

Another project to build a multi-modal logistics hub in Pithampur is yet to take off. In fact, the project report has not even been sanctioned by the DMIC Development Corporation.

The ‘knowledge city’ project in Ujjain near Indore, which has now been renamed Vikram Udyogpuri smart city project, is also moving at slow pace. However, officials say that work to build basic infrastructure will start in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the economic corridor between Indore Airport and Pithampur industrial area will take many years to complete, said sources.

“Restriction on buying land is one of the major hurdles holding up the DMIC project. We need 1,000 to 1,500 hectare land for the project. Although government owns a portion of the land, the acquisition can’t be completed without private land,” a senior official of the state industry department said.

Name of projects

Multi-Modal Logistics Hub, Pithampur

Water Supply for Pithampur Industrial Area

Smart City, Ujjain

Economic Corridor between Indore Airport and Pithampur