Integrated manufacturing & logistics cluster in Unnao gets green nod

Lucknow: Entrepreneurs and businessmen looking for land on the outskirts of Lucknow would be able to get it as Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has got approval from the ministry of environment to go ahead with construction work on the integrated manufacturing and logistics cluster (IMLC) proposed in two villages of Unnao.The project, to come up over an area of 135 hectares, will be set up with a budget of about Rs 450 crore and provide employment opportunities to 19,000 people.Out of the 135 hectares of land, 75 hectares will be used to develop plots and 24 hectares for green belt, while the remaining area will be utilised for developing roads, basic infrastructure and other amenities required to augment production capacity.Having pursued the matter actively for a year, UPEIDA made the final pitch before the state-level environment impact assessment authority on March 13. One-third of the total layout will always be maintained as green space.To promote industrialisation along the expressways, the state govt has given the mandate to UPEIDA to develop the areas in villages and towns that are situated along the expressway into industrial plots and clusters so that employment opportunities could be created for the local population.In a scattered manner, 27 IMLCs would come up along the five operational expressways and the upcoming ones.Along with defence equipment manufacturing, research and development and technology generation, UPEIDA will target existing industries looking to expand their base, sunrise sector industries such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, as well as other players active in handlooms, textiles, electronics manufacturing, defence and aerospace, civil aviation, warehousing, and agro-food processing.Situated along the Ganga Expressway, land has already been aggregated from farmers and residents at Murtajanagar and Saraikatiyan villages. “Sonik railway station is 5 km away from the IMLC and the nearest inland container depot is about 150 km away in Kanpur. Two highways are also situated in proximity to the site. Connectivity would help in attracting big investors,” a senior officer said.