Noida: Union minister for electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said India imports printed circuit boards (PCBs) worth around Rs 40,000 crore every year but will now start manufacturing and exporting these components, taking a step towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India.The minister also said the Union Cabinet approved a bullet train corridor from Delhi to Siliguri via Jewar and Lucknow. “Once operational, the network would reduce travel time between Jewar and Lucknow to one hour and 40 minutes,” he said.Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for Amber Enterprises’ PCB manufacturing facility in Jewar, Vaishnaw said, “India imports Rs 40,000 crore of PCBs annually, and it is a matter of pride that now this will be made in India and in Jewar. After semiconductors, Jewar will be a hub of electronic components, and this is just the beginning.”To illustrate the complexity of the technology, Vaishnaw displayed two printed circuit boards — one with 22 layers and another with 14. “This is just a thin slate, but it is like a 22-storey building, having all details in an organised manner. This is such a complex thing, and now this will be developed in Jewar,” he said. PCBs form the backbone of nearly every electronic device, providing the platform and electrical connections for components to function, from smartphones and computers to televisions.Vaishnaw said the project marked another milestone for the Yamuna City region, following the foundation stone-laying of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor manufacturing unit in Feb.On the bullet train corridor, Vaishnaw said the Cabinet approved the Delhi-Siliguri route at its last meeting. “You board the train and sip a cup of tea, and soon you will land in Lucknow,” he said, adding that Delhi to Lucknow would take two hours and 10 minutes once the network was operational.
