Environmental Clearance Accelerates Development of IMC Gaya – Bihar’s First Integrated Industrial Township

By NI Bureau | 10/05/2025 | Categories: Bihar

Patna, May 10, 2025:

In a significant stride towards industrial transformation in Bihar, IMC Gaya — the state’s first integrated industrial township — has received Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF\&CC), Government of India. The clearance, granted on March 18, 2025, for a 1,670-acre area, marks a major milestone for the flagship Greenfield smart city project under the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC).

Strategically located in Gaya and aligned with national highways, railways, and waterways, IMC Gaya is designed as a mixed-use industrial township featuring industrial, commercial, residential, public, and semi-public zones. The project is being implemented by Bihar Integrated Manufacturing City Gaya Ltd. (BIMCGL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) jointly formed by the Government of India and Government of Bihar.

IMC Gaya promises plug-and-play infrastructure with integrated utilities, logistics support, and sustainable plot-level planning, backed by strong collaboration between Central and State agencies. The township will include facilities such as a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Solid Waste Management (SWM) system, logistics infrastructure, internal roads, drainage systems, and an integrated administrative and command centre. About 33% of the area is earmarked for a green belt, supporting the project’s sustainability goals.

Expected to attract investments worth approximately Rs 16,000 crore and generate around 1.10 lakh jobs, IMC Gaya is envisioned as a counter magnet city aimed at providing local employment and curbing migration. With the EC in place, the process for awarding the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) tender will accelerate, fast-tracking project implementation.

Notably, the EC was obtained under the ‘Industrial Area’ category in just seven months. This expedited clearance allows future industrial units to bypass separate public hearings, simplifying the regulatory process and enhancing investor confidence.

IMC Gaya is a landmark pilot initiative developed jointly by NICDIT and BIADA, and is a key component of the AKIC project aimed at unlocking the industrial potential of Eastern India. By linking with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), the township will enhance regional industrial capacities through state-of-the-art infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, and efficient utilities.

In a recent development, a joint site visit was carried out to evaluate the proposed water storage site and pipeline alignment, ensuring long-term water sustainability for the township. Officials from NICDC, BIADA, the Bihar Water Resources Department, the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Forest Department, and Gaya District Administration participated in the visit. This assessment followed an earlier evaluation of road connectivity, reinforcing the project’s commitment to integrated and well-coordinated infrastructure development.

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar and Industries Minister Shri Nitish Mishra, IMC Gaya is set to transform Bihar’s industrial landscape, making it a beacon of innovation, enterprise, and inclusive economic growth in Eastern India.