Chief economic advisor (CEA) to the finance ministry, Dr.
Arvind Subramaniam wrote in this year’s economic survey that drivers and levers
of Indian growth story are its new cities which would relieve the burden on
densely populated cities like Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai etc. Let us analyse
what we have in store for us in 2017 and how are such cities all set to modify
the Indian growth story.
(1) Chandigarh – India’s first
planned city Chandigarh, and its two sister cities of Panchkula and Mohali is
all set to alter the growth story of North India due to its economic calling
card. With new international airport coming in Aerocity developed by Larson
& Toubro, to being a nodal point in the all anticipated Amritsar-Kolkata
economic corridor (AKEC), this city is all set to embark to new heights due to
its economic growth potential specially in high skilled trade sector. Moreover,
its high standard of living has always been its global calling card attracting
global citizens towards it.
(2) Naya Raipur – Developing as the
new capital of Chattisgarh and latest planned city of India, it was awarded as
the world’s first integrated city in January 2017. With the availability of
smooth cycling lanes to a well knitted integrated grid driven by solar power,
this city is expected to be carbon neutral. Moreover, with university such as
IIT Naya Raipur, KIT, ITM IIM Raipur, the city is also a supplier of highly
skilled workforce, and thus attractive destination for investors. With adequate
supporting infrastructure such as the new cricket stadium, paves way for
holistic development of its citizenry.
(3) Amravati – Located at the
southern bank of Krishna river in Guntur district, the newly planned capital
city of Andhra Pradesh is all set to transform into a technology and
manufacturing hub and relieve some burden on its counterparts of Hyderabad and
Bangalore. With educational institutions like Vellore University setting the
campus, and newer proposals such as SRM university, Amity university and
India-UK institute of health (IUIH), the city is all set to supply skilled
workforce and also attract global giants in both manufacturing and services
sector.
(4) Cochin – Widely referred to as
the commercial hub of Kerela, this city opens India through Arabian sea and
thus a major connectivity facilitation to the western world. Moreover, with new
Govt. initiatives such as Sagarmala which focuses on port-led development, the
city of Cochin is all set to embark on India’s trade potential to help surging
its GDP and also waive some load off the busiest Jawahar Lal Port of Mumbai.
(5) Guwahati – Located at the banks
of Bhrahmaputra, this city of Assam is all set to be nodal hub for the
development of North East India. With India’s Act East policy in operation,
this city is all set to assure North East to fulfil its deficit of development
by increasing trade operations from South East Asia and Bangladesh. With inland
waterways proposed in Bhrahmaputra, it would save logistics costs providing an
opportunity through trade.
In addition to all this, the country is all set to develop
over 100 smart cities through its smart cities mission, and thus produce a
well-knit framework for city led development for the growth story of India in
21st century. Investing in one of these gems is no less than an
opportunity of “assured return”.