The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) has invited Request For Proposal (RFP) for development of Amusement and Recreational Park on Public Private Partnership Basis in Naya Raipur. Notably, around 40 lakh trees will be planted in Naya Raipur in the coming years besides services of National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) will be taken to monitor the condition of the trees planted in the State’s new administrative capital.
A ten-year action plan is being prepared for ‘Green Naya Raipur Project’, the officials said. Moreover, Chief Minister Raman Singh early last month had invited investors to set up Information Technology units at a lower cost in Naya Raipur. He was addressing the prominent IT investors in Mumbai. In the programme organised by National Association of Software Services Company (NASSCOM), Singh said that Chhattisgarh- the 26th State of the country, which was formed nearly 14 years back, has created its identity as ‘Credible Chhattisgarh’ in the field of development.
He said that State Government is committed to develop IT sector in Chhattisgarh in the best possible manner. In the programme, the Chief Minister gave a Power Point presentation before many prominent investors of the country. It is noteworthy that 30 big IT companies of India are the members of NASSCOM. After viewing the presentation made by Singh, the entrepreneurs showed keen interest for capital investment in Chhattisgarh.
Singh mentioned in his presentation that as a gateway to Central India, Chhattisgarh has immense scope of capital investment in various IT industries. The Chief Minister had quoted the seven significant reasons for investment in IT sector of Chhattisgarh. Singh said that as per a study conducted by Planning Commission in year 2012, Chhattisgarh is amongst the top states for ‘Ease of Doing Business’. CHiPS serves as the ‘Single Point of Contact’ for providing seamless interface, he said.
Besides, the central location of the State, peaceful environment, availability of skilled human resources, efficient policy that encourages investment, Naya Raipur emerging as India’s first Smart City and Green City, good governance are the main features that have created a favourable environment for investment in IT sector. In Chhattisgarh, no pre-approvals are required for commencing business. Chief Minister said that for the entrepreneurs interested in IT and ITe sector, the State Government especially provides single point contact facility for all kinds of facilities.
The major reason that makes Chhattisgarh a suitable destination for investment is its central and peaceful location accessible from major metros. Chhattisgarh has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubhaneshwar, Indore and Nagpur and regular flights to Bengaluru, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam, he said.
Moreover, it has direct trains to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore and Vishakhapatnam, Singh said. Chhattisgarh being the Gateway to Central India, it has the potential to serve nearly 50 per cent of Indian population. Market size of INR 1,50,000 crore can be developed in the bordering seven states of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh is well-connected through 12 National Highways- road network of 35,411 km, he said.
Availability of strong human resource is also a favourable aspect of Chhattisgarh for investment. Chhattisgarh has excellent education ecosystem with educational institutions like Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), National law University that churns out around 30,000 professionals every year, Singh said.
It is a State with strong work ethics in local populace. More than 1.80 lakh youth have been trained so far under skill development scheme. Chhattisgarh is a peace-loving State of hardworking and honest people. The State also has low crime rate, as compared to other metro-cities of the country, he said. The Chief Minister also gave detailed information about State Government’s new Five-Year Police 2014-2019 for Electronics and IT sector.
He said that on the lines of ‘Make in India’, the concept of ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’ has been envisioned and accordingly, amendments have been made in the State Government’s IT and ITe policy. Under the new IT and ITe policy, attractive provisions have been made to encourage investment in the sector.
In the NASSCOM programme, Chief Minister said that State Government has earmarked special area of around 80 sq kms in Naya Raipur for investment in IT Sector. This includes 70 acres of land, on which electronic manufacturing cluster (EMC) will be developed with capital investment tuning to Rs500 crores.
The Central Government has also approved the EMC project. In the programme, Principal Secretary of Chhattisgarh Government (Electronics and Information Technology Department) Aman Kuma Singh, Mineral Resources Department Secretary Subodh Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary of Chief Minister Rajat Kumar and officials of Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) were also present.
Chhattisgarh Government is betting big on not just developing a ‘Smart City’ here with ultra modern town planning, its thrust on inviting non-core sector investors to set up base is receiving an equal share of undivided attention, officials stated.
Buoyed by the recent Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM) list released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Government of India stating that Chhattisgarh has received maximum proposals in the country for setting up industrial projects, the second Global Investors Meet is set to draw more investors to the State, they stated.
Chhattisgarh has received investment proposals to the tune of Rs1,61, 836 crores which is way ahead of its follower Maharashtra, they said. Chief Minister Raman Singh has credited the achievement to the conducive industrial environment and developing people of the State and said that he anticipates that these proposals will convert into real investments. This will take the industrial growth rate much higher than other states, he said.
The officials said that according to the IEM list released in September 2014, as many as 24 big investors have filed IEMs for setting industries in Chhattisgarh with an investment proposal of Rs1,61,836 crores. For an investment of more than Rs5 crore the IEM is filed with the DIPP.
Of the total proposals filed with DIPP about 45 per cent investment proposals are for Chhattisgarh. The proposals include Salasar Steel and Power, Vaibhav Energy, GVS Industries, DB Power, Adani Mining Private limited, Real Ispat and Power limited, Hind Multiservices Private limited, Nova Iron and Steel limited, BEC Fertilizers, Vedanta Washery and logistic Solutions Private limited, Ecorex Buildtech Private limited, Adani Synergy limited, Adani Enterprises limited, Keshav Energy, BEC Foods, Ananta Power Projects Private limited, Goyal Energy and Steel Private limited, Shyam Indus Power Solutions Private limited.
The proposals are mainly for setting up iron and steel, power, solar power, mining, food products, food processing etc industries in the State. This investment proposal proves that the environment is favourable for industrial investment in the State. In addition to this the new investment policies for agriculture, food processing policy and solar policy has been successful in attracting the investment proposals, officials said.
Moreover, an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster will be established by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation ltd (CSIDCl) during the next three years. The CSIDCl had sent a proposal to the Central Government regarding development of ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ over 70 acres of land in Naya Raipur.
The estimated cost of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ is Rs105 crore where the Central Government will contribute Rs50 crore for the project while remaining expenses will be borne by State Government itself. Development of the ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will open gates for investment of Rs500 crore in 50 industries and will create employment opportunities for about 1000 people. It is a major achievement in the direction of establishing pollution-free industries of Non-core sector in Naya Raipur, officials stated.
This ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will consist nearly 50 units manufacturing electronic items, electronic panels, medical electronic devices, electronic gadgets, Home Theatre, USB, electronic goods, commercial lights, micro transformers quill, charger, mobile phones, CCTV camera, television, computer hard drive, computer peripherals, set up box, lED light, Inverter, energy meter, automotive electronics, note books, tablets, printers etc. The project will enable investment of Rs500 crore and thus will create employment for about 1000 people.
The ‘Electronic Manufacturing Cluster’ will be equipped with ultra modern amenities along with Shopping Centre, Warehouse, Hostel, Club, Training Centre, Tool Room, Solid Waste Management, Waste Management Plant and Support Service Centre etc.
A Global Investors Meet is also proposed in the State to attract investments in non-core sectors and an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster is coming up in Naya Raipur and a Mega Food Park in Dhamtari district. Work is underway for Engineering Park in Bhilai for setting up engineering equipment industries, officials added.