The Multi Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) in Maharashtra has urged Gurugram-based DLF to return the 140 acres of land allocated to them in 2007 for the construction of an IT Park in Nagpur. Despite a 15-year allotment period, DLF has not initiated any construction on the land situated in MIHAN-SEZ.
DLF was granted possession of the 140 acres in 2007 with plans to develop IT towers spanning 9 million sqft, aiming to generate employment for approximately 1 lakh people. However, no progress has been made thus far.
Development Commissioner of MIHAN-SEZ, V Sraman, stated that notices have been issued to DLF, considering the audit’s recommendation to reclaim unused land. Initially, DLF expressed the intention to surrender the land, but later reconsidered development. MIHAN authorities have requested DLF to submit a concrete plan for the land’s utilization, emphasizing the need for a proper proposal for any permitted activities within the SEZ.
Other companies allocated land, including Infosys, Infocepts, TCS, and HCL, have either partially built IT parks or made no progress on the ground. An email query seeking a response from DLF is pending.
MIHAN, spread over 4,300 hectares, includes the expansion of Nagpur International Airport. Of this, 1,200 hectares are reserved for the SEZ, with the rest allocated for open spaces, residential and retail development. Anticipating an IT boom since 2007, authorities had expected an annual revenue of Rs 8,500 crore, but competition from cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru has surpassed Nagpur’s IT infrastructure development. SEZ authorities report that 20 percent of the SEZ land is occupied and active, 68 percent is vacant, and the remaining parcels either house inactive units or operate without approval.
The Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC), overseeing the MIHAN project, has leased land to major IT companies, including HCL, Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Tata Advanced Systems, Hexaware BPS (Caliberpoint), Lupin Ltd, and Air India Inc, for the establishment of IT parks, manufacturing units, and MRO facilities.