NICDC organizes cross-learning site visit to AURIC Smart City for industrial corridor development
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
NICDC, in collaboration with MITL, organized a two-day cross-learning site visit to AURIC Smart City (Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area) on 23 July 2026. The event aimed to share best practices in planning, implementation, and operation of greenfield industrial smart cities. It also discussed the implementation of the Bharatiya Industrial Development Yojana (BHAVYA) scheme, with applications due by 31 July 2026.
Background
AURIC (Aurangabad Industrial City) is a greenfield industrial smart city developed under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). It serves as a model for integrated industrial township development, featuring world-class infrastructure, investor-centric planning, technology-based governance, and multimodal connectivity.
Key facts
NICDC (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation) organized a cross-learning site visit to AURIC Smart City in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra on 23-24 July 2026.
The visit was conducted in collaboration with MITL (Maharashtra Industrial Township Limited).
Participants included senior officials from state governments, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), Program Managers for New Cities (PMNCs), EPC contractors, and other stakeholders from industrial corridor projects across India.
The event focused on knowledge exchange, strengthening institutional capacities, and showcasing best practices in planning, implementation, and operation of greenfield industrial smart cities.
NICDC CEO and MD Rajat Kumar Saini highlighted AURIC as a model under NICDP for integrated industrial city development.
Key themes included efficient land use, optimal infrastructure utilization, empowering SPVs for future expansion, and the role of plug-and-play infrastructure, integrated utility networks, tech-based urban management, and multimodal connectivity.
The visit included presentations on Shendra-Bidkin industrial area development, digital planning and monitoring system demos, and site visits to operational industrial units and infrastructure facilities.
Discussions also covered the implementation of BHAVYA (Bharatiya Industrial Development Yojana), a NICDC initiative to create world-class plug-and-play industrial parks across India.
States and agencies were encouraged to apply for the first round of BHAVYA applications by 31 July 2026.
The program continued on 24 July 2026 with technical presentations and a cross-learning session.
Prelims pointers
- NICDC: National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation, under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- AURIC: Aurangabad Industrial City, a greenfield smart city in Maharashtra.
- MITL: Maharashtra Industrial Township Limited.
- NICDP: National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
- BHAVYA: Bharatiya Industrial Development Yojana, for plug-and-play industrial parks.
- SPV: Special Purpose Vehicle for project implementation.
- PMNC: Program Manager for New Cities.
- EPC: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract.
- Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area: part of AURIC in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad).
- Cross-learning site visit: 23-24 July 2026.
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of industrial corridors and smart cities in boosting manufacturing and economic growth under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
- Critically examine the effectiveness of cross-learning initiatives and institutional capacity building in replicating best practices across industrial corridor projects.
- Analyze the significance of plug-and-play infrastructure and integrated utility networks in attracting investment and improving ease of doing business.
- Evaluate the BHAVYA scheme's potential to transform India's industrial landscape and its alignment with the broader 'Make in India' initiative.