Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the nodal body for setting up the part of the defence corridor in Uttar Pradesh, has sought ₹486 crore from the industries department to develop the integrated manufacturing and logistics clusters in three districts.
The authority is shaping up the corridor to attract global defence manufacturing companies. So far, a land bank has been aggregated across seven districts, and the procedure to allot the plots is also underway. The demand for the funds has been made to develop a total of 344 hectares of land, out of which 133 hectares are situated in Unnao, 123 hectares in Agra, and 88 hectares in Aligarh.
‘Funds are required to provide basic infrastructure and amenities in the layouts in the three districts. We are going to ensure constant water and power supply, roads, common facilities , sewerage system, streetlights, and open space,’ said a senior officer.
Officials said a 17.5-km long boundary wall would be constructed in the three locations to keep the layout secure . The authority has acquired land from the farmers in Barauli Ahir block in Agra. ‘We have already started awarding the land to the investors. The allotment process is taking place, and developed plots have to be delivered in some locations within two years,’ said the senior officer.
While 33 plots have already been put on the block in the three districts, more land is needed to cater to the companies that have approached the authority looking for land.
While the reserved rate for a square metre of such industrial land in Agra has been kept at ₹2,685, in Aligarh and Unnao, the authority is commanding ₹3,927 and ₹5,010, respectively. ‘Rates of land in Unnao are on the higher side due to its proximity to Lucknow. The layout is situated next to the existing Lucknow–Kanpur national highway and railway tracks. Also, the Lucknow–Unnao–Kanpur expressway is coming up in the vicinity,’ said the
officer.