Speaking at the inaugural function of annual Industrial and Food Expo organised by Indian Industries Association (IIA) here today, the UP Industrial Development Commissioner (IDC) Atul Kumar Gupta said that the state government had high expectations from the Union government’s SEZ policy, as it offered many attractive packages to the investors.

But the latest amendment has ruled out all those SEZs that covered more than ten per cent of agricultural land or had double crop system, he added.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, UP boasts of fertile agricultural land and has more than two crop system as well. Many big SEZ proposals have got entangled in this rigmarole and have failed to move forward. But the gap caused by this will now be filled by the Ganga Expressway Project, which would function as a ‘development corridor’,” Gupta stated.

“It will not be a highway alone, but would provide the business houses with ample space and opportunity for SEZ like development,’ he added.

The industrial development commissioner also elaborated upon the state government’s scheme to facilitate setting up of industries in UP.

“Instead of offering tax subsidy we are giving them infrastructural support. For this, the government has also set up a separate department, which is exploring new opportunities for the private players to invest in the state,” he said.

Ganga Expressway, he added, was the first venture in this direction, which would give both big and small industrialists an opportunity to set up their business in special economic zone like environment.

So far, the state has only two SEZs— one in NOIDA and the other in Moradabad— that are fully operational.

Eight others, four each in NOIDA and Greater NOIDA, have been notified after the SEZ Act came into force on January 24 this year. All of them are IT-based SEZs.