FM Sitharaman asks NITI Aayog to incorporate industrial projects under GatiShakti

New Delhi, July 8 (KNN) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday asked NITI Aayog to bring industrial projects like industrial corridors, freight corridors under the GatiShakti initiative.

While chairing the first meeting of the apex monitoring authority constituted to review the activities of National Industrial Corridor Development programme, Sitharaman said, “I would like NITI Aayog to map all this (industrial corridors, freight corridors, defence corridors, manufacturing zones, textile parks, logistics parks, medical and pharma hubs). Map it all and tell us where you see a possibility for bringing them under the PM Gati Shakti.”

“I find many of them are still lying loose and unconnected. Mapping it up will probably give a better idea of how they can all come into this scheme of things,” she added.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Commerce and industry minister, railway minister, shipping minister, minister of road transport and highways, vice-chairman, NITI Aayog, and chief ministers of states concerned.

The finance minister also appealed to the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to undertake a review of three industrial corridors in south India — the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor and their nodes.

Industrial corridors are being developed under the National Industrial Corridor Programme of the government. These corridors are being constructed with the aim of developing greenfield industrial smart cities that can strive to stand tall with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.  (KNN Bureau)