Project Overview

The Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) is an industrial development project by the Government of India. Developed by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), the corridor is designed to create world-class manufacturing infrastructure and smart industrial cities along the 1,839 km Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC).

It starts in Ludhiana, Punjab, and ends at Dankuni, near Kolkata, West Bengal. The corridor spans seven states, namely, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It covers an influence area of 150–200 km on either side of the EDFC in a phased development band.

The AKIC comprises multiple Integrated Manufacturing Clusters (IMCs) Nodes developed under a separate Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with NICDIT holding a 49 percent stake and the respective state government holding 51 percent.

An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) was established to carry out preparatory work. The IMG proposed that the corridor be developed in a 150–200 km band on either side of the EDFC in a phased manner, and that it integrate National Waterway 1 and the existing highway network as complementary logistics channels.

The Union Budget 2024-25 specifically allocated resources to accelerate industrial nodes under AKIC, with the Cabinet approving 12 projects across 10 states in August 2024, totaling INR 28,602 crore. These projects are projected to attract over INR 1.52 lakh crore in total investment and create more than 9.39 lakh jobs.

Project Background

The AKIC was designed as a companion to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which India began developing in 2007. The project was formally approved by the Cabinet on 20 January 2014 and is modeled on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

It is implemented by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC), a Government of India company that was originally incorporated in January 2008 as the DMICDC and later renamed to reflect its expanded national mandate. A dedicated implementation vehicle, the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (AKICDC), was to be constituted alongside NICDC to manage the project.​

The Union Budget 2024-25, presented in July 2024, specifically mentioned accelerating AKIC nodes and the broader NICDP. On 28 August 2024, the Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved 12 industrial smart city projects under the NICDP across 10 states, with a combined project cost of Rs 28,602 crore.

AKIC nodes, including Gaya (Bihar), Rajpura-Patiala (Punjab), Hisar (Haryana), Khurpia (Uttarakhand), Agra, and Prayagraj (UP), are all part of this approval or have received earlier sanctions.

The corridor also has a Himachal Pradesh dimension: the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, located approximately 70 km from the EDFC, has been included in AKIC's influence zone for development purposes.

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Stakeholders details

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Current Status

As of April 2026, the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) is in an active planning and early‑implementation phase, with land‑acquisition and institutional agreements advancing state‑by‑state. However,  full construction has not yet started.

The Hisar IMC (2,988 acres), Haryana, has achieved a milestone with the State Support Agreement and Shareholder Agreement signed in August 2025 between NICDIT, the Government of Haryana, and Haryana Airports Development Corporation. NICDC approved cluster development near Hisar International Airport.

The central government has approved IMC Agra (1,059 acres) and IMC Prayagraj (1,141 acres) under AKIC. The IMC cluster at Dobhi (Gaya district) has secured approximately 1,671.71 acres for land acquisition.

Overall, the under-construction AKIC is progressing, with Bihar and Haryana among the most advanced states so far.

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Route Map

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Route

The Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) runs along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), spanning 1,839 km. It starts in Amritsar, Punjab, and terminates in Kolkata, West Bengal, crossing through seven states, namely, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Also known as the Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (ADKIC), the corridor runs west–east from Amritsar (Punjab) via Delhi, then through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and finally into West Bengal up to Kolkata.

The corridor will be developed within a band of 150-200 km on either side of the EDFC, ensuring comprehensive regional coverage. 

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Cities

Integrated Manufacturing Clusters (IMCs) Nodes - Phase I

Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor Project Cost

The AKIC Phase I will receive INR 5,600 crore (approximately USD 3.09 billion). It will be provided by the Center, through budgetary support spread over 15 years. According to the Cabinet decision, an ADKIC development corporation will be set up with an equity base of INR 100 crores.

The center holds only a 49% stake in the equity, and the remaining 51% is owned by the concerned state government and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation. Furthermore, the center is also expected to provide a project development fund of INR 100 crore to the corporation.

Project Timeline

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the AKIC:

• Sustainability and Inclusivity features: The corridor supports sustainable development, boosts agro-industries for rural economic growth, and promotes balanced regional growth across eastern and northern India.
  

• Phased Implementation: The AKIC is to be developed in a phased manner, with the primary focus on IMCs and infrastructure projects.
  

• Infrastructure features: The corridor focuses on transport expansion, logistics, power, water supply, and other enabling infrastructure, supporting industrial activities and attracting global and domestic investments.
  

• Supports multiple sectors: Including manufacturing, agro-processing, food processing, e-mobility, textiles, heavy engineering, defense, and export-oriented industries.

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project:

• Largest Industrial Corridor: The AKIC is the largest industrial corridor in the National Industrial Corridor Development Program, covering approximately 40% of the country's population across seven states.
  

• Direct connectivity to ports: The corridor influences EDFC as a logistics backbone, ensuring low-cost, reliable cargo movement from Punjab to West Bengal, and directly linking manufacturers to ports and markets.
  

• Addresses regional industrial imbalance: AKIC directly addresses regional industrial imbalances by channeling manufacturing investment in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
  

• Reduced infrastructure risks: IMCs are designed as a plug-and-play smart industrial city, with pre-built utilities, roads, drainage, power, and water in place before investor arrival. In greenfield locations, this eliminates infrastructure risk, a big deterrent to manufacturing investment.
  

• Reduce implementation risks at IMC Nodes: The central government's financial commitment and governance, along with state-level land and regulatory support, reduce implementation risks at each node.
  

• Create Job Opportunities: The corridor creates multiple job opportunities, including 1.25 lakh at Hisar IMC alone, prioritizing semi-urban and rural areas.
  

• Improves connectivity: The corridor improves connectivity along the route through rail, road, and airports.

Conclusion

The Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) is an industrial development project spanning 1,839 km along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC). Developed by the NICDC, the corridor develops multiple IMCs Nodes under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

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Established across the seven states of the country, it promises substantial job creation, increased investment in key nodes, and enhanced connectivity through multimodal infrastructure. The corridor aligns with 'Make in India' and targets high-growth sectors, including e-mobility and agro-processing, to position eastern India as a global manufacturing hub.

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Overall, the corridor, which covers 40% of India’s population, will drive inclusive growth, innovation, and sustainable development, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of national economic infrastructure.

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