The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is a mega infrastructure and industrial development project, conceived as a high-tech, multi-modal transportation and industrial ecosystem. The concept originated in 2006 with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of India and Japan, symbolizing an Indo-Japan strategic partnership. The project was created to transform the region between the political capital, Delhi, and the business capital, Mumbai, into a global manufacturing and economic center, addressing the need to boost India's manufacturing sector and enhance trade.
The DMIC spans approximately 1,500 kilometers across six states: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Its mechanism is centered on developing world-class infrastructure along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), which facilitates the efficient movement of goods. Key provisions include the creation of nine mega industrial zones, eight smart cities, and integrated townships, with a total planned investment of around USD 100 billion. The project is implemented by the DMIC Development Corporation (DMICDC), incorporated in 2008, which operates under a Public-Private Partnership model. The DMICDC's ownership structure includes a 49% equity stake by the Government of India and a 26% stake by the Japan Bank for International Corporation.
The DMIC is closely connected to the Government of India's "Make in India" initiative, aiming to double employment, triple industrial output, and quadruple exports from the region. Recent progress includes the completion of trunk infrastructure works for Integrated Industrial Townships in Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh), and near-completion of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat and the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area in Maharashtra. The project emphasizes sustainability, incorporating green initiatives like solar power and energy-efficient buildings.