The Union government has designated Zaheerabad Industrial Area (ZIA) in Sangareddy district as a priority node under the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC), as part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada informed Lok Sabha.
In a written reply to Congress MP Kadiyam Kavya, the minister said the Zaheerabad project covers 3,245 acre and involves a total investment of Rs 23.60 billion. The Centre’s contribution includes Rs 5.96 billion in equity and Rs 6.55 billion in debt through the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), NICDIT Zaheerabad Industrial Smart City, has been formed to implement the project. Tendering for selecting a Project Management Consultant (PMC) is currently underway.
In a separate intervention in Lok Sabha, Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy urged the Centre to accelerate approval for the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II project. Highlighting the city’s growing traffic issues, he stressed the urgency of expanding the metro network to keep pace with urban development.
The proposed Phase-II spans 76.4 km across five corridors with an estimated cost of Rs 242.69 billion. The joint venture plan includes funding from the Centre (Rs 42.30 billion), Telangana government (Rs 73.13 billion), debt (Rs 116.93 billion), and PPP mode (Rs 10.33 billion).
Reddy pointed out that similar JV models have been approved for cities like Agra, Indore, and Kochi, and questioned the delay in Hyderabad’s case.
News source: The New Indian Express
