Major Industrial plan(1)
Chapter: 32 ; Major Industrial Plan (1)
06/01/1997
The New Year had hardly been passed, when Animesh unveiled yet another transformative plan.
Sitting in the Cabinet Hall of the Prime Minister's Office, he spoke to a group of ministers, industrialists, and planners. Behind him, an expansive map of India indicated the proposed sites of eleven new Greenfield cities, marked with precision.
"India can't grow unless we are able to expand the boundaries of growth," Animesh began calmly, his voice at once authoritative but gentle. "It's time to build cities not only representing our economic future but also our culture and history. These first eleven cities will represent India's future, the new levels of growth that it seeks—seven as cities of production and four as ports".
The room applauds, but Animesh holds up a hand to let the people settle down. "It's not just an issue of infrastructure. This is about opportunities, ideas, and enabling the individual at large."
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The Vision for the Eleven Cities
1. Port Cities:
Port cities are strategic enclaves for boosting international trade across nations. It would work in upgrading India's maritime structure as well as attract multinationals' investments.
Lothal Nova (Gujarat): It would take on port like status considering maritime or even logistics and trade to remember the old Indus valley trading post.
Krishna Gateway (Andhra Pradesh): Vastly named, these are a coastal cities considering marine research and having new-style docks.
Oceanus City (Goa): Strategically designed to enhance ocean tourism and marine research; that city will integrate luxury tourism into coastal ecology.
Andaman Port Nova (Andaman & Nicobar Islands): Developed to enhance India's Bay of Bengal maritime footprint and drive Southeast Asian trade.
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2. Industrial Parks:
Cities of manufacturing: all industry, from textiles to automobiles and electronics to heavy machinery, would be covered by these industrial cities.
Vindhya Nagar (Madhya Pradesh): A food processing hub incorporating agro-industries with exports.
Shakti Nagar (Chhattisgarh): To develop renewable energy and the steel/aluminum industries among others.
Vriksha Nagar (Jharkhand): A mining and metallurgy city with a vision of sustainable industrial growth.
Swarna City (Karnataka): A city for technologically intensive manufacturing, with electronics and automobile industries as priority sectors.
Shakti Shila City (Odisha): Capitalizing on the mineral resources of the state, this city would be on steel production and export.
Aryavarta (Haryana): Knowledge-intensive industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Kalpavriksha City (Maharashtra): Creative industries, textiles, and renewable energy technologies.
On January 7th, Animesh presented his ambitious plan in Parliament. The session hall buzzed with anticipation as he rose to speak.
"My government has always believed in the strength of India's heritage and the resilience of its people. These eleven cities are not mere dots on a map. They represent hope, progress, and prosperity for millions,"
Animesh outlined how each city would create jobs, reduce migration pressures on existing metros, and stimulate regional development. He also pointed out that the cities were chosen very carefully to ensure geographic and economic balance across the country.
The opposition, as one might expect, raised concerns. "Prime Minister, this is another grandiose project with no concrete roadmap," one MP jeered. "How do you plan to fund it?"
Undeterred, Animesh answered, "Through public-private partnerships, global investments and a dedicated infrastructure fund. But let me be clear – this is not just the government initiative. It is the call for every Indian to participate in building a new India.
A few days later, Animesh embarked on a nationwide survey to oversee the proposed sites. His first stop was Bihar, his mother Sarita Devi's home state. Patna was abuzz with excitement; the Prime Minister's visit was nothing short of historic.
Animesh accompanied Mahesh and met with the head of the Bureau of Internal Integrity, BII, in the state secretariat. He was an officer who was sharp, meticulous, and one called Ashwin Rajan. This officer gave a report about corruption in land acquisitions—a key issue concerning the new city projects.
"Sir, land acquisition for Bhagalpur and Nalanda has encountered severe resistance. Corrupt officials have over-charged prices and siphoned compensation to ghost accounts," explained Ashwin.
Animesh leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "How widespread is this issue?"
"Extensive, but manageable," Ashwin replied confidently. "With your directive, we've already begun arresting the culprits. However, we'll need strong enforcement and transparent mechanisms to avoid delays."
"Good," Animesh said. "This is a test for the BII. Make sure no honest farmer is cheated and that every corrupt official is held accountable. Bhagalpur will not only be a city; it will be a symbol of fairness and opportunity."
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As Animesh traveled through Bihar, he addressed public gatherings, speaking about the significance of these new cities. In a passionate speech in Patna, he said:
"Bhagalpur is not just the Silk City of India; it is testimony to our craft and resilience. Nalanda is not a name; it is a legacy. These cities will be a pride and prosperity to Bihar, as they will to every corner of India. We must, however, strive together in honesty, integrity, and unity."
Cheer broke out in the crowd. For Bihar's people, Animesh's dream was a beacon of hope—to re-inherit the glory of their state while co-participating in the Nation's growth.
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The opposition parties went harder and harder on the critiques with allegations of "elitist" and "sustainable" Greenfield cities. International investors demanded that the land and labor policies be clarified; ecologists began to raise voices about ecological impact.
But Animesh was not deterred. "India's future is worth every challenge," he said to Mahesh in a late-night meeting. "If we succeed, these cities will not just transform the economy—they will transform lives."
As the groundwork began for the first cities, the storm of accountability raged on. Yet amidst the chaos, a new India was beginning to take shape.
15/01/1997
The winter sun had already begun to dip in the sky as Animesh scheduled his next high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's Office. Senior ministers, infrastructure experts, and state representatives had all been gathered around the long oval table. Stacks of maps and blueprints covered the table, their edges curling slightly in the warmth of the room.
Animesh spoke, "I have called you here, is about ensuring that the Greenfield cities do not exist as islands of progress but as interconnected hubs in the heart of a unified, modern India. Before we lay the first brick of these cities, we must lay the roads that will connect them, to each other, to existing cities, and to the world.
The ministers nodded, some with hesitation and others full of gusto. Animesh pointed at a map the length of the table. It outlined a very ambitious National Connectivity Masterplan: expressways, state highways, and intercity roads to weave the country together.
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The National Expressway Grid Vision
The proposal was described by Animesh in three interacting layers:
1. National Expressways:
A seamless grid of six- and eight-lane expressways connecting all state capitals, major industrial zones, and upcoming Greenfield cities.
Key corridors included:
North-South Corridor: From Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
East-West Corridor: From Silchar in Assam to Dwarka in Gujarat.
Golden Quadrilateral Plus: Expanding the Golden Quadrilateral to integrate second-tier cities like Indore, Nagpur, and Kochi.
2. State Highways:
Upgraded state highways connecting smaller towns and regional hubs to the national expressway network.
Focus on the fact that no major town is more than 100 kilometers from a high-speed road.
3. City Access Roads:
Urban link roads to connect industrial areas, ports, and Greenfield cities directly to the national highway system.
"The aim," Animesh declared, "is to eliminate bottlenecks in transportation, reduce logistics costs, and ensure that no citizen, no matter where they live, feels isolated from the opportunities of a modern India."
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Animesh's proposal carried a brash directive: the whole network needs to be completed within two years.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as this seemed like a monumental task. Finally, Nitin Sharma, the Minister of Roads and Transport, cleared his throat. "Sir, this is unprecedented. Building over 25,000 kilometers of expressways in two years will require unprecedented coordination, funding, and manpower. And according to the calculation, roads muct be built almost 35 km per day.
I know," Animesh replied calmly. "But it can be done. China built their first national expressway system in less than a decade. Japan rebuilt its infrastructure after the war at record speed. India, with its engineers, laborers, and determination, is no less capable."
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1. Funding the Dream
Animesh suggested that public-private partnership funding could be the right solution:
Infrastructure Bonds: Tax-free bonds for people and NRIs to directly invest in nation-building.
International Investments: Partner with international agencies for low interest loans.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Encourage private parties to bid for particular segments of the network.
(There is system for the fund, it will added later.)
2. Labor Mobilization
To complete the work on time, Animesh mooted the idea of having one million workers all across the country. Special skill development centers would be opened wherein unskilled labor will be trained for construction-related work.
3. Environment Protection
To appease environmentalists, the plan provided for planting trees along highways, building wildlife corridors, and using eco-friendly materials.
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Animesh knew that state governments would be critical of the success of the project. He set off on a whirlwind tour across the country, meeting chief ministers to secure their cooperation over the next week.
He addressed a gathering of state leaders from the eastern region in Patna. "Bihar and its neighbors have historically been deprived of infrastructure. This project is your opportunity to link your people to the rest of the country. Will you stand with me?"
In Bengaluru, he met with skeptical industrialists. "This is not just a road project—it's a lifeline for businesses. Imagine moving goods from Bangalore to Mumbai in under 10 hours. This will transform the way we do business."
Slowly but surely, states one by one began signing on to the plan, committing land, resources, and support.
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And he also allowed them to sign the treaty.
It doesn't matter whether the existing government will remain or change but if they dare to stop any development program, across the state they will impose the emergency in the state by the president of India. As an excuse they are being blocked in the development of the country.