The Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area (SBIA) in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, one of the industrial nodes on Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has attracted investment of over Rs 6,500 crore and is likely to create 7.5 lakh employment opportunities.

DMIC is one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes aiming to develop new industrial cities as Smart Cities and converging next-generation technologies across infrastructure sectors.

The two nodes in Maharashtra on DMIC include Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area and Dighi Port Industrial Area. The Shendra industrial area is already operational. The Bidkin and Dighi Port industrial areas are still under construction.

The Maharashtra government has transferred the entire 8.39 sq km of land to the special purpose vehicle (SPV) named Aurangabad Industrial Township in Shendra. The matching equity of Rs 602.80 crore has been released by the Centre through National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).

Major trunk infrastructure works are completed with 93 plots allotted, including allotment of 100 acre to major investors like a South Korean company Hyosung. An investment of over Rs 6,500 crore has been attracted in this area.

In Bidkin Industrial Area out of a total 32 sq km, the Maharashtra government has transferred 28.8 sq km and matching equity of Rs 2,397.20 crore has been released by the Centre. Trunk infrastructure works here are nearing completion.

As per development plan, direct-indirect employment generation potential for SBIA is approximately 7.5 lakh.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has confirmed the availability of 5,935 acre of land for Dighi Industrial Area (Raigad district). Of this 3,622 acre is in possession of the state government. Detailed master planning and preliminary engineering for the land parcels have been initiated. As per the development plan, employment generation potential for Dighi Industrial Area is approximately 3.2 lakh.