Daijiworld Media Network – Nashik

Nashik, Sep 1: The Maharashtra government has initiated a survey to include Nashik and Nagpur in the second phase of the ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project.

The first phase of DMIC, launched nearly a decade ago, covered Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dighi port industrial areas. Although Nashik was part of the original plan, it was left out due to “technical reasons,” state industry secretary P. Anbalagan said during a recent visit to the city.

He noted that while the project has already been commissioned in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, tenders worth Rs 1,400 crore have been floated for infrastructure works at Dighi port. “Plots will be allotted to industries once these works are completed,” he said.
With the new survey, the state is actively considering Nashik and Nagpur for Phase 2. However, Anbalagan admitted that the biggest challenge remains land and water availability for industrial projects.

Industrial bodies in Nashik have long pushed for inclusion in DMIC. In 2013-14, the water resources department had expressed its inability to allocate dam water for the project, leading to Nashik’s exclusion from Phase 1.

Manish Rawal, vice-president of Nashik Industries & Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA), stressed the city’s potential in manufacturing, agriculture, and food processing. “If Nashik is included in the second phase, it will boost industrial growth, attract large-scale investments, and create employment opportunities,” he said.

The DMIC aims to build a strong economic base with world-class infrastructure, enhancing trade, investment, and sustainable growth across its corridor states.