T.N., U.P. and Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC)

Context:

Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have acquired land for the Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC).

Relevance:

Prelims, GS-III: Internal Security Challenges (Defence Technology and Infrastructure developments, Government Policies and Interventions)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC)?
2. Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor
3. Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor

What are Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC)?

• Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC) are corridors will facilitate a well-planned and efficient industrial base that will lead to increased defence production in the country.
• The corridors overlap with existing defence public sector companies, and aim to ensure connectivity among various defence industrial units.
• Developments of these corridors is significant as India is among the top 5 military spenders and one of the emerging defence manufacturing hubs in the world.
• Promoting Make in India, the Defence Industrial Corridors will catalyse indigenous production of defence and aerospace-related items.
• The combined efforts of the Government and private players will help achieve India’s goal of self-reliance in defence, generate direct and indirect employment opportunities and spur the growth of private domestic manufacturers, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Star-ups.
• Two Defence Industrial Corridors are being set up in India, one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Tamil Nadu.

Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor

• The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor is being set up by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). It consists of the following six nodal points with the potential to develop defence industries in the corridor:
  1. Agra
  2. Aligarh
  3. Chitrakoot
  4. Jhansi
  5. Kanpur
  6. Lucknow
• Plug and Play support will be provided to the industries in the corridor, which will consist of the following facilities:
  1. Assured water supply and uninterrupted electricity (132 KVA) along with pelican wire fencing boundary wall at the site
  2. Connectivity with 4-lane heavy-duty highway connected with Bundelkhand Expressway and Delhi-Jhansi
  3. Single Window approvals and clearances to Defence and Aerospace (D&A) manufacturing units via Nivesh Mitra, the single window system of the state
  4. Labour Permits for D&A industry towards flexible employment conditions
  5. Simple Procedures and rationalised regulatory regime with easy reimbursement of incentives and subsidies

Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor

• The Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor, being set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu, consists of the following five nodal points:
  1. Chennai
  2. Coimbatore
  3. Hosur
  4. Salem
  5. Tiruchirappalli
• The State holds the following strategic advantages which makes it a suitable destination for a defence corridor:
  1. The large coastal line which has four large seaports (three government and one private) and 22 minor ports
  2. The state has four international airports at Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai; and two domestic airports at Tuticorin and Salem
  3. A power surplus state with renewable energy capacity of 11,113 MW
  4. Tamil Nadu’s capital city Chennai is connected to the world by three submarine cables providing a bandwidth of 14.8 Tbps
  5. A destination of choice for Korean investors; the state is the largest Recipient of Korean Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India.

-Source: The Hindu