Nagpur: The Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) has taken a firm stance, directing Gurugram-based DLF to return 140 acres of land allotted in 2007 for constructing an IT Park in Nagpur. Despite 15 years passing since the allocation, no construction has materialized on the site situated within MIHAN-SEZ, as per media reports.
DLF was initially granted possession of this 140-acre parcel with plans to erect IT towers covering a sprawling 9 million sqft, aiming to generate job opportunities for approximately 100,000 individuals. However, the envisioned project failed to take off.
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V Sraman, Development Commissioner of MIHAN-SEZ, tols media, “Noting the lack of progress and in line with audit recommendations to reclaim unused land, we’ve issued notices to DLF. Initially, DLF expressed intent to surrender the land, but subsequent communications suggested a reconsideration of development.”
He continued, ‘Our stance remains open to collaboration, provided they furnish a comprehensive plan outlining their intentions for the property. Any activity within the SEZ premises necessitates a meticulously laid-out plan for approval.’
The authorities emphasize the necessity for DLF to submit a viable plan if they intend to proceed with any development on the allotted land within the SEZ.
Along with DLF, several other companies were also allotted land, but have either only partially built IT parks or have done zero work on ground, according to the report.
Several other companies, such as Infosys, Infocepts, TCS and HCL already have their units operational inside the SEZ.
The MIHAN Project:
The MIHAN project is spread across 4,300 hectares of land that also includes expansion of the existing Nagpur International Airport. Of this, around 1,200 hectares is reserved for the SEZ, followed by non-SEZ reservation for open spaces, residential and retail development.
Since 2007, the authorities had anticipated an IT boom in Nagpur, owing to which Rs 8,500 crore was expected to be generated annually. This was in the form of income of 1.77 lakh IT professionals and other employment opportunities that were expected to come out of MIHAN-SEZ.
However, in the following years, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru paced up their IT infrastructure and today are much ahead of Nagpur, the report added.
According to SEZ authorities, of the over 1,200 hectares, around 20 percent is occupied and active, 68 percent of the land inside SEZ is vacant, and the remaining land parcels house units that are inactive or functioning without approval
The Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC), the nodal agency for the MIHAN project, has till now leased out land to major IT companies including HCL, Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, and other blue-chip companies such as Tata Advanced Systems, Hexaware BPS (Caliberpoint), Lupin Ltd and Air India Inc, for setting up of IT parks, manufacturing units and MRO facilities.
