District Administration Transfers Khurpia Farm Land to SIIDCUL for Kichha IMC

What Was Decided

The Udham Singh Nagar district administration initiated the transfer of Khurpia farm land to the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL), the state agency responsible for building out the site. The decision to transfer the land in Khurpia farm to SIIDCUL underscores the government's commitment to ensuring that the project moves forward without unnecessary delays. District Magistrate Udayraj Singh emphasized that this land transfer is a critical step toward actualizing the smart industrial city, which is expected to offer substantial employment opportunities for the local population and foster regional economic development.

The Approval Behind the Transfer

The district-level transfer followed a central government decision days earlier. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, greenlit the development of 12 industrial smart cities across six major industrial corridors in 10 states, with an estimated investment of Rs 28,602 crore. These smart industrial cities are strategically located in key regions, including Khurpia in Uttarakhand, alongside Rajpura-Patiala, Dighi, Palakkad, Agra, Prayagraj, Gaya, Zaheerabad, Orvakal, Kopparthy and Jodhpur-Pali.

The project's green light was announced by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during a virtual press conference, where he highlighted the potential of Khurpia's industrial smart city to significantly enhance the manufacturing capabilities and overall economic growth of Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including Khurpia of Uttarakhand in the list of industrial smart cities.

Operative Details: Area, Cost and Location

Khurpia Farm in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, is a 1,002-acre Integrated Manufacturing Cluster under the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC). Located just 17 km from Rudrapur in Kichha Tehsil, the site is strategically located near NH-09, NH-109, and SH-44. The project has a cost of ₹1,265 crore and an investment potential of ₹6,180 crore, and is poised to generate over 75,000 jobs.

State-level briefings put the same numbers slightly differently: officials described a land holding of Rs 410 crores for the Amritsar Kolkata Corridor being developed on 12 hundred acres, with Rs 400 crore to be received from the central government for the site's development. The DPR was reported as approved, with all formalities completed, and construction work expected to be completed within 2 to 3 years.

Environment-clearance filings for the project record a slightly larger footprint: the proposed IMC site covers an area of 1,013.386 acres (410.10 ha) across Khurpia, Bandiya, Deoria, Gauri Kalan and Bhooragauri. Total power demand for the IMC is 115 MVA, of which 100 MVA is for the industrial area and the rest for residential, commercial, street lighting and utilities.

Land Background: Why a District-Level Transfer Was Needed

Khurpia farm has a long and contested land history that explains why a formal administrative transfer step was necessary before construction could proceed. The Khurpia farm, leased by Keshar Enterprises, occupies an area of approximately 2,500 acres and comprises five revenue villages -- Khurpiya, Bandia, Devriya, Gorikala and Bhuragori. In 2012, the Uttarakhand high court asked the state government to take possession of the land, and four years later the government passed an order that a SIDCUL industrial estate would be set up on 1,002.15 acres of the farm.

The land has not been without dispute. While the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Bhumiheen Sangthan has been demanding settlement of landless people on this land, the state has attempted to divert the land for industrial development, and there is no consensus among local people -- some favour it, others have raised objections. In 2017, protesters occupied the farm to protest against the government's decision to allocate the land to SIDCUL. Various other uses were floated over the years, including reports in December 2019 of building an airport and smart city while allocating 405 acres to the landless.

Practical Effect and Local Reaction

The land transfer to SIIDCUL is the administrative step that clears the way for site development, utilities, and eventual plot allotment to industries. The project's focus is on establishing Khurpia as an automobile hub, alongside industries related to engineering and fabrication. Its proximity to other industrial areas like Pantnagar, Rudrapur, and Kashipur is expected to add economic synergy to the region.

Local political reaction was largely favourable. Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behar praised the initiative, pointing out that it will drive development and generate numerous employment opportunities. Former BJP MLA Rajesh Shukla also lauded the project, noting that its foundation was laid during the tenure of the previous government, and that Khurpia's inclusion in the National Industrial Corridor Policy is a matter of pride for the state.

Beyond the industrial cluster itself, the district is also seeing related public infrastructure built nearby: Khurpia is witnessing other development projects, including a satellite AIIMS on 100 acres, a modern degree college on 14 acres, and a roadways bus stand on 3.5 acres.