Japan crisis may not affect DMIC project

The project is being implemented at a fast pace in Gujarat.

Amitabh Kant,Chief Executive Officer (CEO),DMICDC (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation) told The Indian Express: “DMIC is a global partnership project and Japan has a limited role in it. Most of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects are done through international bidding,and there are little chances of the project getting affected in Gujarat or elsewhere. The quake may provide an opportunity to Japanese companies to build stronger infrastructure in India now.”

He added: “Japan will bounce back very soon and come out with more effective technical solutions for which they are known. DMIC projects are not going to be affected much as these are long-term projects to be developed in the next 30-40 years. Natural calamity like this can have effect for a few months or a year. It is possible that Japan may speed up its projects in India for faster recovery. This crisis will not affect us in the long run.”

Maheshwar Sahu,Principal Sectary,Industry & Mines department,Gujarat,said: “We are assessing the situation. It’s too early to expect any response from Japan. They are our key partners and we are with them in this crisis. At present,most of the early bird projects in PPP are with Indian partners,so as of now Gujarat may not suffer any significant impact. But we will assess the situation.”

Sources said “a number of Japanese companies are working on developing eco-cities across Gujarat and investing heavily in various medium and large-scale projects”.

A source added,“These projects may face some delay in the short-term,but the Japanese are particular about their business plans and will not give up.”

Japan has been a partner country of the state-government’s Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit for four times now.

Japan Sharma,a senior official in the Japanese Consulate in Mumbai said: “We have not been given any specific instructions on the DMIC issue,so we cannot comment on it. We will inform as soon as we get instructions from the Government of Japan.”

At present,the early Bird Projects from the Indian side under DMIC project in Gujarat are: Ahmedabad- Vataman- Pipli- Dholera- Bhavnagar Six Lane Access Controlled Highway (180km),metro rail system between Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad-Dholera (120km),Integrated Mega Industrial Park at Dholera,and an international airport between Ahmedabad and Dholera.

The Vadodara-Ankleshwar Industrial Region,Bharuch-Dahej Mega Industrial Region,Surat-Navsari Industrial Region,and Valsad-Umbergao Industrial Region have also been proposed along with a number of industrial parks across the DMIC region of Gujarat.