Delhi will get a ‘knowledge city’ in South Delhi very soon. The knowledge city will be a hub of industrial activities related to knowledge creation and its uses. An announcement has been made in this regard by Delhi’s Industry Minister Haroon Yusuf.

He also said that Delhi would set up two SEZs , one for Gem and Jewellery industry and another for IT , under the public private partnership (PPP) in a span of 30 months with the help of Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). This will create direct and indirect employment for over two lakh people.

It is notable that a new comprehensive industrial policy has been approved by Delhi Cabinet on Monday. The new policy focuses non-polluting industries like IT, IT enabled services, Hi-tech, sophisticated knowledge based and services and discourages labour-intensive manufacturing sector. As Haroon says that the government is now focusing on Infrastructure development, decongestion, promoting ‘walk to work’, industry consultation and other areas.

The Union government has already been approved both the SEZs in last month. While the SEZ for Gems and Jewellery will be set up in an area of 41.4 acres at an estimated cost of rupees 489 crore the IT SEZ will cost around rupees 395 crore and will have an area of 26 acre. The IT SEZ will have a convention halls, hotels, hospitals and residential accommodation. IT SEZ will provide direct employment to 36000 people and indirect employment to 1.08 lakh people.