The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) has been honored with the prestigious Udyog Vikas Award during the Udyog Vikas event, organized by Janmabhumi Daily, a leading newspaper in Kerala. The event, which marked a significant moment for India’s industrial development, was attended by Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, and Steel. During the ceremony, the minister emphasized the Union Government’s unwavering commitment to developing Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities across the country.
In his speech, Shri Varma praised the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) at Palakkad, noting that it holds transformative potential for the industrial and infrastructural landscape of Kerala as well as for the southern region of India. The project, he remarked, would serve as a key catalyst for economic growth, fostering regional employment and innovation.
The event also featured a technical session focusing on the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. This session provided an in-depth overview of the vision, planning, and progress of the upcoming Palakkad Industrial Smart City. The session was further complemented by a presentation from NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL), which discussed the technological innovations being introduced through the Logistics Data Bank (LDB) and the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
The Palakkad Industrial Smart City, covering 1,710 acres across the regions of Pudussery Central, Pudussery West, and Kannambra, represents a monumental step in Kerala’s industrial expansion. Strategically located 21 kilometers from Palakkad city, 120 kilometers from Cochin, and 50 kilometers from Coimbatore, the site offers exceptional logistical advantages, positioning it as an industrial hub for South India. The city’s design prioritizes multi-modal connectivity via road, rail, and air, ensuring seamless interstate access and fostering investment opportunities.
As of now, 81% of the required land for the project is already in possession, with environmental clearances for all land parcels granted in January 2025. The project management and construction consultant has been awarded, and the finalization of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) tender documents is currently in progress.
The event also highlighted the contributions of NLDSL in revolutionizing India’s logistics ecosystem. Since its launch in September 2022, ULIP has integrated 43 systems from 11 ministries and connected more than 1,800 data fields through 129 APIs. This platform has empowered over 1,300 companies, facilitating more than 100 crore API transactions. ULIP is a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a unified, efficient, and transparent logistics network, which is essential for driving India’s growth in the global manufacturing and logistics sectors.
NICDC’s recognition at the Udyog Vikas event underscores its pivotal role in advancing India’s industrial transformation, improving its competitiveness, and strengthening the nation’s manufacturing and logistics infrastructure on the global stage.