SEZs to invest around Rs 70 K in 3 yrs in Maha

MUMBAI: Maharashtra aims to attract investment to the tune of Rs 60-70,000 cr from its 11 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects, which have been ratified by the Centre.

Under Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the nodal agency for developing the SEZs, the state has sought permission for total of 48 SEZs of which 11 have been cleared and four are expected to receive the nod soon.

"We hope to receive an investment to the tune of Rs 60,000 cr within next three years under the 11 sanctioned SEZs. These will generate employment for around 2.5 lakh people," MIDC joint chief executive officer Sanjay Khandare told PTI here.

The 11 SEZ projects are lined up to be developed independently by MIDC as well as on joint venture basis with corporate houses with the thrust upon the IT and textile sector, he added.

Most of the Information technology SEZs would be located at Hinjewadi - near Pune. Baramati area has been selected for textile, Latur for agro product, Nanded for pharmaceutical and Multi product SEZs will be in Jalna and Nashik.

MIDC has already acquired majority portion of the required land in most of these projects.

"In other states, land acquisition has been the biggest hurdle... we are almost through this phase and will possess required land for these 11 projects very soon," Khandare said.