Govt approves Adani Ports's proposal to club three SEZs in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: The government has approved the Adani Group's proposal for clubbing its three notified special economic zones (SEZs) in Gujarat to form a mega multi-product export zone spanning over 8,500 hectares.

The decision on the same was taken y the Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, in its meeting on February 23.

"After deliberations, the Board approved the proposal of Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd for clubbing of APSEZSL - I (multi - product) and APSEZL-II (free trade ware housing zone) with APSEZL - III (multi-product) subject to contiguity being maintained," the minutes of the BoA meeting said.

The board has also directed the Development Commissioner of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZL) to carry out fresh demarcation of procesing and non-processing area.

The developer, Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd, had stated that they have master-planned these as a mega multi-product zone.

As per the original master plan, the SEZ with an integrated world-class development spanning the entire supply chain by way of multi modal connectivity, all utilities and industrial and social infrastructure facilities has been done for 10,000 hectares.

They have developed various infrastructure facilities in the existing notified operational SEZs. Further, the multi product SEZ notified over an area of 1856.53 hectares at the same location in Mundra is contiguous with the existing notified and operational SEZs.

As per the SEZ Rules 2006, the government may consider on merit the clubbing of contiguous existing notified SEZs notwithstanding that the total area of resultant SEZ exceeds 5,000 hectares.

The APSEZ-I, a multi product special economic zone, is operational as on date and it is spread over an area of 6,456.33 hectares.

The APSEZ-II, a free trade warehousing zone was notified in March 2012, over an area of 168.41 hectares at Mundra, Gujarat.

Similarly, the APSEZ-III, a multi product SEZ was notified in December last year, over an area of 1,856.53 hectares at Mundra.

Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd, developer of three SEZs at Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat had submitted a proposal for clubbing of these three notified SEZs.