The government reaffirmed its commitment to developing cutting-edge greenfield smart cities, with the upcoming Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Palakkad, Kerala, emerging as a flagship project in this transformative roadmap.
The announcement came during a high-level event recognising excellence in industrial development, where the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) was honoured for its pivotal role in driving India’s economic modernisation. Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, and Steel, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, highlighted the significance of the Palakkad IMC in reshaping the industrial contours of southern India. Designed as a catalyst for regional economic integration, the 1,710-acre smart city—strategically positioned near key urban and industrial centres—aims to become a nucleus of advanced manufacturing, clean energy deployment, and inclusive urban growth.
The Palakkad project, part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme, is being envisioned as a model of next-generation urban planning. Located just 21 kilometres from Palakkad city, with proximity to Cochin and Coimbatore, it leverages seamless interstate connectivity and multi-modal logistics, including access to national highways, railway lines, and airports. The city has already secured 81 per cent of its required land and received full environmental clearances as of 1 January 2025—fast-tracking it towards operational readiness. More than just a physical hub of factories and warehouses, the Palakkad IMC is being developed with a conscious focus on sustainability and technology integration. The site has been designed to prioritise eco-efficiency, smart energy grids, and equitable employment opportunities. By adopting green construction norms, water-sensitive urban design, and dedicated green belts, the city aspires to be a low-carbon industrial ecosystem aligned with India’s broader climate commitments.
The initiative dovetails with India’s evolving digital logistics infrastructure, with NICDC’s digital arm—NLDSL—showcasing the potential of platforms like the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and Logistics Data Bank (LDB). Since 2022, ULIP has digitally unified over 40 systems from 11 ministries and enabled over 100 crore API transactions, significantly improving transparency and operational efficiency in the logistics sector.
Palakkad’s smart city model exemplifies the government’s intent to converge industrial expansion with environmental stewardship. As part of a network of upcoming smart cities across the country, the project offers a glimpse into a future where economic growth is harmonised with equitable access, digital innovation, and green infrastructure.
By fostering industrial decentralisation and building resilient urban frameworks, projects like these are poised to unlock new frontiers in India’s journey toward a sustainable, inclusive, and technology-driven economy—where growth no longer comes at the cost of the environment, but rather, grows in balance with it.
India Accelerates Greenfield Smart City Plans
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