🌟 Overview: A Major Manufacturing Push
The Government of India is preparing to launch 12 new industrial smart cities in key states across the country, marking a significant leap in its ambition to scale up domestic manufacturing. Announced by DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, this initiative will expand India’s industrial city count from 8 to a total of 20 .
🏭 What Is Being Built?
- 12 locations have been shortlisted, including two in Andhra Pradesh and one in Bihar, with others spread across states like Uttarakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan .
- These cities follow the “plug-and-play” smart city model—core infrastructure built in advance, environmental clearances already secured—making them ready for industrial use .
- Four pilot cities—Dholera (Gujarat), Auric (Maharashtra), Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh), and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)—already have trunk infrastructure and are awarding industrial plots .
🎯 Why This Matters
- The new industrial smart cities are key drivers in raising the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP and generating employment .
- They form part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), with a total investment commitment of approximately ₹28,602 crore .
- Aligned with PM GatiShakti, these smart cities will feature multi-modal connectivity, modern urban planning, and integrate industrial output with social infrastructure .
- The goal: create ready-to-occupy industrial ecosystems with plug-n-play and walk-to-work concepts, suitable for both large-scale industries and MSMEs .
📌 Plan & Progress
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Pilot rollout | Eight industrial smart cities underway; trunk infrastructure done in 4, basic infrastructure in the other 4 |
| Policy approval | DPIIT is moving to seek formal sanction from the Union Cabinet . |
| Land acquisition | States have already arranged land; SPVs and equity approvals are pending |
🌐 Industry Impact & Outlook
- These smart cities are forecast to unlock significant FDI, boost exports, and generate job opportunities in manufacturing and supporting services .
- By standardising infrastructure and streamlining clearances, India aims to enhance its ease-of-doing-business ranking and compete globally for industrial investments .
- Experts believe these projects will act as dynamic economic centres, accelerating innovation and more sustainable urban growth .
✅ Conclusion
India’s upcoming rollout of 12 new industrial smart cities, expanding the portfolio to 20, highlights its strategic focus on manufacturing-led growth. With a plug-and-play model, multi-modal connectivity, and backed by significant public-sector investment, these industrial smart cities—led by pilot sites like Dholera—are poised to become vital growth engines in India’s economic transformation story.
