Travelling Across the Industrial Corridors of India
Travelling Across the Industrial Corridors of India
Key Takeaways
Introduction
In recent times, Industrial corridors have surfaced as a central strategy for strengthening India’s industrial ecosystem, as they enable lower production costs, wider market access, and stronger integration with global production networks. To advance this model of industrial corridor-led development, the Government of India, together with State Governments, is establishing these corridors as planned economic zones supported by strong transport connectivity. This effort complements the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), through which the country is creating a network of modern industrial corridors equipped with future-ready manufacturing hubs, multimodal connectivity, and plug-and-play infrastructure.
Complementing this vision, the Union Budget 2026-27 announced the development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur. These initiatives are establishing new greenfield industrial areas, regions, and nodes structured to compete with premier manufacturing and investment destinations globally.
What are Industrial Corridors and why do they matter?
Exploring the Concept of Industrial Corridors
Industrial corridors are linear development zones that connect major economic centres through an integrated network of roads, railways, ports, and airports. The defining features of these corridors are:
What Makes Industrial Corridors Essential
Industrial corridors play a fundamental role in metamorphosing regional economies by creating environments where industries can operate efficiently, sustainably, and competitively. Their importance is displayed in the following ways:
Strategic Government Interventions for Industrial Corridor Development
As India accelerates the creation of modern, well-connected industrial corridors, a series of government-led initiatives are laying the foundation for sustainable, competitive, and future-ready industrial growth.
National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP):
The Government of India is developing multiple Industrial Corridor Projects under the National Industrial Corridor Programme (NICDP), guided by the PM GatiShakti framework to ensure coordinated, multimodal connectivity for major economic zones.
Under this programme, various projects across 11 corridors are being implemented. These projects are being developed through a sustainability-focused framework that supports the transition towards Low-Carbon Cities (LCCs). Key elements of this approach include:
S. No.
Name of the Corridor
Projects
1.
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
2.
Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)
3.
Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC)
4.
Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC)
5.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC)
6.
Extension of CBIC to Kochi via Coimbatore (ECKC)
7.
Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC)
8.
Hyderabad-Warangal Industrial Corridor (HWIC)
9.
Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC)
10.
Odisha Economic Corridor (OEC)
11.
Delhi-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (DNIC)
—
Current Status of some projects across Industrial Corridors:
Name of the Corridor
Completed Projects
Description
Investments
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR)
As per the Economic Survey 2025-26, the Phase-I cities, such as DSIR, SBIA, IIT-GN and IIT-VUL, have collectively allotted 350 industrial plots, attracting ₹2.02 lakh crore in investments across sectors such as electronics, renewables, pharmaceuticals, and electric vehicles (EVs).
Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area (SBIA)
Integrated Industrial Township-Greater Noida (IIT-GN)
Integrated Industrial Township Vikram Udyogpuri (IIT-VUL)
Name of the Corridor
Projects Nearing Completion
Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)
Tumakuru Industrial Area, Karnataka
Krishnapatnam Industrial Area, Andhra Pradesh
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub (IMLH) Nangal Chaudhary, Haryana
Multi-Modal Logistics Hub & Multi-Modal Transport Hub, Dadri, Greater Noida, U.P.
Introduction of 12 additional Projects:
As per the Budget 2024-25 announcement, 12 projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme were approved by the Government of India in August 2024 with a total project cost of ₹28,602 crore. These industrial smart cities are envisioned to develop globally benchmarked manufacturing and investment hubs, featuring plug-and-play facilities, smart city planning, and a walk-to-work ecosystem. They aim to create best-in-class, future-ready infrastructure designed ahead of demand.
S. No.
Name of the Corridor
Name of the Project
Project Area
Project Cost
Investment Potential
Employment Potential
1.
Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC)
IMC Khurpia, Uttarakhand
1,002 acres
₹ 1,265 crores
₹ 6,180 crores
75,057 jobs
2.
IMC Rajpura Patiala, Punjab
1,099 acres
₹ 1,367 crores
₹ 7,500 crores
64,204 jobs
3.
IMC Hisar, Haryana
2,988 acres
₹ 4,680 crores
₹ 32,417 crores
1,25,000 jobs
4.
IMC Agra, Uttar Pradesh
1,058 acres
₹ 1,812 crores
₹ 3,447 crores
69,516 jobs
5.
IMC Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
352 acres
₹ 658 crores
₹ 1,600 crores
17,700 jobs
6.
IMC Gaya, Bihar
1,670 acres
₹ 1,339 crores
₹ 16,524 crores
1,09,185 jobs
7.
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
IMC Dighi Port Industrial Area, Maharashtra
6,056 acres
₹ 5,469 crores
₹ 38,000 crores
1,14,183 jobs
8.
Jodhpur Pali Marwar, Rajasthan
1,578 acres
₹ 922 crores
₹ 7,500 crores
40,000 jobs
9.
Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC)
Kopparthy, Andhra Pradesh
2,596 acres
₹ 2,137 crores
₹ 8,860 crores
54,500 jobs
10.
Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC)
Orvakal, Andhra Pradesh
2,621 acres
₹ 2,786 crores
₹ 12,000 crores
45,071 jobs
11.
Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC)
Zaheerabad, Telangana
3,245 acres
₹ 2,361 crores
₹ 10,000 crores
1,74,000 jobs
12.
Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
Palakkad, Kerala
1,710 acres
₹ 3,806 crores
₹ 8,729 crores
51,000 jobs
Total
25,975 acres
₹ 28,602 crores
₹ 152,757 crores
939,416 jobs
National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC):
The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC), previously known as Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (DMICDC), was incorporated in January 2008 for the development, coordination, and implementation of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) by the Government of India. The NICDC:
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT):
On 7 December 2016, the Government of India approved the expansion of the scope of the DMIC Project Implementation Trust Fund (PITF) and re-designated it as the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT). The trust has been allocated ₹3,000 crore under the Budget Estimates 2026-27.
Conclusion
The Union Budget 2026-27 gives strong momentum to India’s industrial expansion by announcing the creation of an Integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor anchored by a major node at Durgapur. This initiative aligns with the broader vision of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), which is steadily shaping a nationwide network of advanced production centres supported by transport linkages and ready-to-operate industrial facilities. With development progressing across 11 Industrial Corridors, where 4 locations are already operational, and 4 are approaching completion, the government is steadily enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity, attracting substantial private investment, and generating large-scale employment. The introduction of 12 additional projects highlights India’s intent to cultivate globally competitive manufacturing destinations rooted in sustainable design, technology-enabled administration, and compact urban planning that encourages a walk-to-work lifestyle. The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC) continues to play a central role by planning and guiding modern industrial townships, logistics hubs, and integrated production clusters. Complementing this effort, the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), supports the large-scale infrastructure creation, climate-conscious urban systems, and coordinated corridor-level development. These commitments place India on a firmer path to strengthening its industrial foundation, broadening its export potential, enhancing connectivity across regions, and shaping a forward-looking industrial ecosystem aligned with the country’s long-term economic goals.
References
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Ministry of Education
Consulate General of India, Hamburg, Germany
Embassy of India, Germany
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)