Govt announces 12 new industrial smart cities: Here are the cities' names and other key details

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Union Cabinet has approved the development of 12 new industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the projects, worth ₹28,602 crore, aim to transform India's industrial landscape.

12 new industrial smart cities: Here are the cities names

1. Rajpura, Patiala
2. Khurpia, Uttarakhand
3. Agra, Uttar Pradesh
4. Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
5. Gaya, Bihar
6. Dighi Port, Maharashtra
7. Jodhpur Pali Marwar
8. Kopparthy, Telangana
9. Zaheerabad, Telangana
10. Orvakal Andhra Pradesh
11. Pallakad, Kerala
12. Unknown city in J&K or Haryana

Minister Vaishnaw disclosed only 11 of the 12 city names, citing the model code of conduct due to upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir as the reason for withholding the final name.

Cementing India's Role in Global Value Chains

These new cities are expected to cement India's role in global value chains by providing ready-to-allot land for investors. With the introduction of 'plug-n-play' and 'walk-to-work' concepts, these cities will feature planned urbanization and robust, sustainable infrastructure designed to attract investment and promote balanced regional development. The employment potential is significant, with an estimated 10 lakh direct jobs and up to 30 lakh indirect jobs to be created. Additionally, these projects have an investment potential of ₹1.5 lakh crore and are built on the principles of PM GatiShakti, focusing on integrated and efficient infrastructure.

Strategic Economic Development

The establishment of these new