The Hindu Business Line : Jurong, Parsons to develop Navi Mumbai SEZ project

JURONG Township and Parsons Brinckerhoff have been appointed as project management consultants to develop the Mumbai integrated Special Economic Zone (MiSEZ) to come up in Navi Mumbai.

It is to be developed in three phases and the development of the first phase is expected to cost about $1 billion.

MiSEZ is a combination of the proposed Navi Mumbai and MahaMumbai special economic zones and, according to Mr Mahesh Lalvani, the official coordinator for CIAe in charge of MiSEZ, the project will ultimately spread over 33,000 acres. Over the next 10 years it is expected to attract $20 billion as FDIs.

The zone has been described as the first private sector SEZ in India as it is being promoted by a consortium that includes Mr Nikhil Gandhi, Chairman, Sea King Infrastructure Ltd, Mr Niranjan Hiranandani of Hiranandani Group, Mr V. Dhoot of Videocon, Mr Avinash Bhosle of the Avinash Bhosle Group and Cidco.

While Jurong Township will plan and develop the entire project, setting up at MiSEZ is expected to become easier with the SEZ expected to become a municipality in its own right and a Special Development Commissioner to be appointed as the sole authority.

Approvals are expected to become easier as it will provide exporters with a single window clearance. Further, MiSEZ would offer huge potential for offshore banking.

Mr Lalvani said that the planned apparel park would be set up in two phases with the first to be ready by July-August 2005 and span 300 acres.

MiSEZ would also come under the Essential Services Act for a period of five years, which, Mr Lalvani said, would take care of exporters' fears of disruption of operations by labour, especially since the park is expected to employ about 1.25 lakh workers. About 120-150 apparel units are expected to come up here.

He added that in about three weeks, the rates of `galas' would be fixed and the CIAe (Confederation of Indian Apparel Exporters) is putting together a list of textile players to set up shop at the SEZ.

Exporters are likely to benefit from the fact that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust is just 6 km away and would use the self-declaration basis in lieu of customs procedures.

Mr Lalvani said there are also plans to build a cargo and charter airport at MiSEZ and that there is likely to be no aviation fuel tax imposed — one of the reason why air freight from Dubai's SEZ to the US and Europe is extremely competitive.

He added that once the sea link between Sewri and Uran is complete, the tender for which was floated recently, travelling/transport time would fall drastically.

Also on the cards are an international class convention centre aimed at businessmen and conferences; three five-star hotels and two golf courses. Besides, 50 hectares will be devoted to developing A, B and C-grade residential accommodation for employees and workers at MiSEZ.

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