IMC Gaya Gets Environmental Clearance, Marking Key Milestone in Bihar’s Industrial Growth

Patna: The ambitious Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) Gaya project, a flagship greenfield smart industrial city under the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), has received environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for 1,670 acres—paving the way for Bihar’s first integrated industrial township.

The clearance, granted on March 18 within a record seven-month timeline, represents a significant milestone for the Bihar Integrated Manufacturing City Gaya Ltd (BIMCGL)—a special purpose vehicle jointly formed by the Government of India and the Government of Bihar. The approval under the “Industrial Area” category eliminates the need for separate public hearings for individual units, streamlining future industrial development.

The IMC Gaya project, championed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, is part of a broader push to transform Bihar into a hub of inclusive, sustainable industrial growth. Once operational, it is expected to catalyse innovation, enterprise and job creation across eastern India.

Located near the historic town of Bodh Gaya, the township will span over 1,000 acres of planned industrial plots and offer multimodal connectivity via the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC). It will feature integrated infrastructure including power supply, water management, logistics support and drainage systems.

The rapid grant of statutory approvals is likely to boost investor confidence and accelerate the pace of project implementation. Officials say this integrated and fast-tracked approach reflects strong alignment between central and state agencies under the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).

In a related development, a joint site visit was recently conducted by stakeholders including the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Water Resources Department, the National Institute of Hydrology, and Gaya district officials. The visit focused on water infrastructure planning—assessing proposed water storage sites and pipeline alignments to ensure long-term sustainability of supply.

The recent water and road assessments highlight the project’s emphasis on coordinated, cross-sectoral planning—critical for delivering a world-class industrial ecosystem in the region.