Indore: SEZ smart city project awaits Centre's approval

The MP government’s proposal to develop a smart city on the 300-acre non-processing area of the Indore special economic zone (SEZ) is awaiting the Centre’s approval.

The MP government’s proposal to develop a smart city on the 300-acre non-processing area of the Indore special economic zone (SEZ) is awaiting the Centre’s approval.

The project will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, and the government is likely to come out with tenders to select a developer soon.

In April this year, the state government had given its nod to the detailed project report (DPR) and applied to the Centre for de-notification of the non-processing area.

The smart city will be a self-sustained township with modern infrastructure and amenities including residential and commercial properties, schools, clinics, and banking facilities, government officials said.

“We have identified 300 acres of land out of a total 276 hectares (681 acres) in the non-processing zone of the Indore SEZ for developing a smart city. The feasibility study has been done and the state government has already approved the detailed project report (DPR). We will come out with tenders to select a developer once the Centre de-notifies the land,” an Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam official said.

“The development of non-processing zone of the SEZ has been delayed for many years due to one reason or the other. Hopefully, the project will not face any more hurdles,” Pithampur Audyogik Sangathan president Gautam Kothari said.

Indore SEZ located in Pithampur is spread over an area of 1,113 hectares. At present, there are 47 operational units in the zone and five new units are under construction. Exports from the SEZ crossed Rs 3,919 crore in 2014-15, a growth of 35% from Rs 2,909 crore in the previous financial year.