Jaipur: Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) will spend Rs 1,200 crore to upgrade infrastructure and facilities across more than 450 industrial areas in the state.A senior RIICO official said work plan of Rs 1,000 crore has already been finalised. Upgrades will cover water and power supply, street lighting, plantations, road development, public parking, fire stations and skill development centres.RIICO will rank industrial areas as platinum, gold, silver or bronze based on these parameters and carry out targeted improvements accordingly, the official said. “By classifying the industrial areas, the corporation aims to elevate each industrial area to a higher category within the next year through systematic infrastructure enhancement,” said the official.The move will also strengthen the industrial ecosystem and improve ease of doing business, which is key to attract investors’ interest in Rajasthan, he added.RIICO officials said that the objective is to ensure that industries operating in these areas have access to all essential facilities, enabling them to grow steadily and contribute to the state’s economy. The corporation is actively working in collaboration with entrepreneurs to achieve these goals.Many of the industrial areas in the state are crying for improvement in basic infrastructure and facilities. Watter logging during rains, absence of proper drains, approach roads, and lack of parking spaces are some of the common challenges these areas have been facing for a long time.Representatives from industry said that rejuvenating the existing industrial areas is as important as opening new ones. “If RIICO does not take care of the running industrial zones; the investor will think twice coming to the new areas,” said Suresh Agarwal, president of Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry (FORTI).The classification of zones will also identify infrastructure gaps that the authorizes can plan and develop. “The classification will differentiate the level of infrastructure available in a zone. This will be helpful to carry out targeted improvements,” added Agarwal.Much Needed DriveOver 450 industrial areas across Rajasthan to benefitWork plans worth Rs 1,000 crore already finalizedUpgrades include water supply, power supply, and street lightingPlans cover plantations, road development, public parking, and fire stationsSkill development centres to be set up in industrial zonesIndustrial areas to be ranked Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze based on facilitiesAimis to elevate each zone to a higher category within one year.RIICO working with entrepreneurs to strengthen the industrial ecosystem️ Classification will help identify infrastructure gaps and guide targeted improvements
