The small towns in backward Aurangabad district will become first digital cities in India
The small towns of Shendra and Bidkin in the backward Aurangabad district are geared up to become the first digital cities in the country. The towns have been included in the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which will encourage industrial zones. They will have automated control systems for facilities like traffic management, electricity and water supply and smart mode of transportation. The state government is hoping the DMIC project will give a new lease of life to Marathwada in terms of employment generation.
“We have acquired 50 acres of land for the Shendra-Bidkin industrial park and have started constructing basic infrastructure in the area. We are expecting investment from auto and auto ancillary sectors, motor vehicles, food and beverage, machinery and equipment, fabricated metal products, electronics and electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, textile products in the area. The Shendra-Bidkin industrial park will generate 52,700 jobs by 2022,” general manager of DMIC Gajanan Patil told The Asian Age.
The Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area is the first phase of the DMIC project. Other phases include Igatpuri-Nashik-Sinnar Investment Region, Pune-Khed Industrial Area and an industrial area with Greenfield Port at Dighi. The Shendra-Bidkin area will have a world-class business district centre; modern, efficient and quality setting for meetings and conferences; exhibitions and shows; hotel and entertainment facilities; vibrant retail; offices; transit connections to the city; airport and downtown, he added.
The DMIC aims at developing the industrial zone spanning six states in India namely Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The corridor will be spread across 2,700 km with an additional 5,000 km of feeder lines connecting Mumbai to West Bengal. The DMIC in Maharashtra covers eight districts and passes through Dahanu Road, Virar, Vasai Road, Diva and terminates at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai.
Altogether, 29 per cent of the total area of the state and 26 per cent of its population will be within the influence area of the DMIC.
“The two cities are called digital as they will have centralised systems to monitor and control complexes of systems for the entire Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area, innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management to better inform users and enable safer, more coordinated, and smarter use of transport networks.
They will have a computer-based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as ventilation, lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems. The use of a smart grid will help to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics, and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity,” Mr Patil said.
The Maharashtra government is looking at the project as a hope for the backward Marathwada region where drought is prevalent. The industrial development will give an alternative to farmers who at present have no source of income apart from agriculture, an official from the state industries department said.
