The Chhattisgarh Government is in the process of setting up an Engineering Park at Heavy Industrial Area at Bhilai in Durg district at a project cost of Rs9.68 crores.
The project is being executed by Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation ltd (CSIDC) under Central Government’s ‘Developing Export Infrastructure & Allied Activities’ (ASIDE) scheme, officials stated.
The Chhattisgarh Government is also in the process of upgrading a double lane main road at light Industrial Area Bhilai in Durg district at a cost of Rs5.66 crore, officials stated.
The project had been taken up under Central Government’s ASIDE scheme. The project will further bolster export oriented movement of goods from the State, they stated.
The State Government is already in the process of facilitating an approach road connectivity for Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kapa in Raipur to Raipur- Bilaspur Highway (NH-200), officials stated.
The project had also been taken up under Central Government’s ASIDE scheme.
The State Government is already in the process of upgrading infrastructural facility to further accelerate Export-Import ( EXIM) activity from its Inland Container Depot (ICD) located at Kapa in Raipur.
The cost of the proposed project within the ICD campus is Rs3.10 crore, officials stated.
Early this year, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had also put forward a proposal that a ‘Cargo Hub’ should be developed in Naya Raipur with a Container Depot in Chhattisgarh.
He said that his Ministry will bear the entire development cost if the Chhattisgarh Government agrees to provide land for the proposed hub.
To this, Chief Minister Raman Singh who had met the Union Railway Minister in New Delhi had assured the latter that his Government will provide land for the project.
It may also be recalled that in November last year, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation last year had approved construction of domestic cargo terminal in 24 airports of the country, including one at Raipur.
Significantly, in 2014-15, Raipur Railway division coming under South East Central Railway (SECR) loaded 31.85 million tonnes of freight which is highest since the formation of its Raipur division.
During the past five years, Railway division has earned Rs11.78 crore from non conventional sources, officials said.
With a view to catering to the ever increasing demand for downstream products a Metal Park is also being established by the State government on 87.57 hectares of land at Rawabhata 12 kms from Raipur.
In the first phase of the project, the Metal Park has been developed in 20 hectares of land.
The proposed industrial units at the Park are downstream metal (ferro and non ferro) industrial units.
The Metal Park would provide quality infrastructure like roads, water supply, street light, commercial and amenities zone.
In the month of January this year, the Chhattisgarh Cabinet endorsed the State’s ‘New Industrial Policy 2014-19’. The approval to the policy was accorded in a meeting chaired by CM Raman Singh at the Mantralaya.
After the meeting, the Chief Minister provided detailed information about the Cabinet decisions. He said that the policy includes the provision of subsidy worth Rs5 crore for establishing an Industrial Park in the private sector.
Provision of establishing ‘land Bank’ over 10,000 hectares for various industries has also been included in the policy, Singh stated.
Moreover, to promote bicycle manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, electronic products, textile industries etc, these industries will be included as ‘Priority’ in the new industrial policy. The prescribed limit for mega project will be reduced for these industries, so that they may get benefits of mega-project on lesser investment, he said.
Under the new industrial policy, the Chief Minister Cluster Development Scheme will be initiated, under which the State government will provide Rs50 lakh as subsidy.
Singh said that on the lines of ‘Make in India’ concept, the State Government will implement ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’ policy under which manufacturing units of the related industries will be promoted with priority.
The domiciles of Chhattisgarh will be encouraged to set up their own enterprises and they will also be provided better employment opportunities, he said.
Capital investment in the State will be promoted by making industry competitive in comparison to other states.
Weaker sections of society such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Disabled, Retired personnel, women and Naxal-affected families will be given preference under the policy. The mineral, forest and other resources available in the State will be naturally conserved, Singh said.
For skill improvement of permanent residents of the State, participation of industries will be ensured, he said.