New Delhi: The Government has set up two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) with an aim to attract an investment of Rs 20,000 crore by the year 2024-25. The Government hopes that the investment will boost defence industries, develop the domestic supply chain and will strengthen defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
In Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), there are six nodes namely, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot & Lucknow, while in Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC) five nodes are Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem & Tiruchirappalli. Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) is the nodal agency for UPDIC and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) is the nodal agency for TNDIC. Both States have promulgated their respective Aerospace & Defence Policy to attract investments in DICs.
As per the information given by the Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in the Parliament, 108 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with industry/organisation in UPDIC having potential investment of Rs 12,191 crore. An investment of Rs 2,445 crore has been made and 1611 Hectare of land has been acquired so far for the development of UPDIC. Further, in Tamil Nadu, arrangements have been made through MoUs etc with 53 industries for a potential investment of Rs 11,794 crore. Investment worth Rs 3,894 crore has been made and 910 Hectares of land have been acquired so far for the development of TNDIC.
The DICs have been established to develop a holistic defence manufacturing ecosystem which is a progressive and ongoing process.
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