Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces 12 New Smart Cities And 1 Million New Jobs From Cabinet Decisions

The Union Cabinet has given the green light for the development of 12 industrial smart cities across 10 states, with a projected total cost of Rs 28,602 crore. This ambitious project is expected to attract investments worth Rs 1.52 lakh crore and generate approximately 9.39 lakh direct jobs. It also holds the potential to create up to 30 lakh indirect jobs.

Industrial Smart Cities Across Six Corridors

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that these industrial cities will be developed within six key industrial corridors:
– Amritsar-Kolkata
– Delhi-Mumbai
– Vizag-Chennai
– Hyderabad-Bengaluru
– Hyderabad-Nagpur
– Chennai-Bengaluru.

The designated locations for these cities include Khurpia in Uttarakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh, and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.

Major Railway Infrastructure Projects

In addition to the industrial cities, the Cabinet has approved three major railway infrastructure projects. These projects, covering a total of 296 kilometers, come with an estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore. The enhanced rail connectivity is expected to drive regional development, particularly in aspirational districts such as Nuapada and East Singhbhum.

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Expansion of the Agri Infrastructure Fund

The Cabinet also announced an expansion of the Agri Infrastructure Fund, which was originally launched in 2020 with a budget of Rs 1 lakh crore. This fund is designed to improve post-harvest agricultural infrastructure, including pack houses, cold storage, refrigerated vehicles, and primary processing units.

The expansion will now cover integrated secondary processing and will include Component A of the PM-Kusum scheme, offering credit guarantees for these projects. The initiative aims to assist farmers in adding value to their produce and establishing agri-based industries.