The industrial estates belonging to all the categories (a, b and c) will be able to charge toll charge and other taxes that will be used for further maintenance of these estates, said Saurabh Patel, the state Industry Minister, at the Vibrant VCCI 2009, the sixth mega industrial fair, held in Vadodara on Thursday.

Patel said GIDCs in the last several years have developed around 25,000 hectares of land into industrial zones. The government is now planning to add another 25,000 hectares of land for industrial development in the state in the next five years.

"We have spoken to industrial associations and they have been very positive about it," he said. The minister said the next decade belongs to the development of the special investment regions.

The government has identified six different regions for upgradation of the estates. The areas chosen in Vadodara region are Por, Savli and Halol. Several townships are being planned in this region, which will include industry, entertainment and residential projects.

"Vadodara is a step ahead of all the other cities in Gujarat. It is cosmopolitan and the quality of life and education is much better than that in other cities of the state. Around 20 MNCs function in Savli and hence the region is important for us," he said.

The minister also called upon foundry, pharma and garment industries of Ahmedabad and auto and engineering industries of Rajkot for cluster formation.