The proposed Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (ADKIC), that seeks to promote industrialisation and job creation in 20 cities spanning seven States, will require an estimated Central funding of Rs 5,749 crore for building an Integrated Manufacturing Cluster in each State it passes through.

The Inter Ministerial Group (IMG), set up by the Prime Minister to do the preparatory work for the project, has suggested in its report that the Centre’s support for the project would be disbursed over 15 years and used for a variety of purposes.

This would include interest subvention (subsidy), share in equity, development of trunk infrastructure and initial project development grant to ADKIC Development Corporation, a release given out by the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday said.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pulok Chatterji, will hold a meeting with IMG members and other relevant ministries on Friday, the release added. The IMG includes secretaries from the Ministries and Departments of Finance, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Urban Development, Shipping, Road Transport and Highways and Chairman of the Railway Board,

As per the IMG’s recommendations, the ADKIC will be aligned to the Eastern Development Freight Corridor and will span 20 cities in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. It proposes to leverage the existing Highway system on this route and the Inland Water System being developed.

Monitoring body

The IMG has suggested setting up an Apex Monitoring Authority, under the Commerce and Industry, for overall guidance, planning and approvals, setting up of timelines for implementation and monitoring.

The development of ADKIC will be taken up in a band of 150-200 km on either side of EDFC in a phased manner.

In the first phase, every State could promote at least one Integrated Manufacturing Cluster of about 10 sq km, in which 40 per cent area would be earmarked permanently for manufacturing and processing activities.

ADKIC will use both the Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach and non-PPP approach.

amiti.sen@thehindu.co.in