Ahmedabad: Gujarat govt has earmarked major funding for Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) to position it as a global hub for future industries, with finance minister Kanu Desai announcing the allocations in the state budget on Wednesday.Industry representatives said the provisions could accelerate Dholera’s emergence as an industrial centre. Pathik Patwari, chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Gujarat chapter, said, “There is a provision of Rs 1,100 crore for the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy and also assistance of Rs 150 crore under the Gujarat Electronics Policy. An allocation of Rs 610 crore for developing trunk infra at Dholera SIR will help Dholera become an industrial hub.“The minister said that Phase 1 of the Logistics and Trunk Infrastructure Project is underway at Dholera SIR, covering the Dholera airport, modern roads, water and wastewater treatment facilities, underground cabling for power distribution, and smart ICT infrastructure.Dholera and Sanand are emerging as semiconductor hubs, while Dholera is also expected to get an aircraft manufacturing facility and attract data centre investments.For water supply, the budget provides Rs 300 crore to deliver 100 MLD pipeline water from Bhaskarpura village lake in Lakhtar taluka of Surendranagar district to Dholera SIR, and Rs 650 crore for a new 100 MLD bulk pipeline network to ensure uninterrupted supply. An additional Rs 50 crore has been allocated for infrastructure facilities within Dholera SIR.
