The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the establishment of a robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) park in Greater Noida spread over 69.52 acres, estimated to generate more than 1 lakh direct and indirect jobs and add Rs 2,000 crore annually to the state’s economy at full scale.
The proposed platform for Robotics and AI Growth Through Technology and Innovation (PRAGATI) Park aims to promote indigenous robotics manufacturing, accelerate AI-based technology development and create an ecosystem conducive to investment and research in the sector, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said while briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
“The park will be developed in two zones. The first zone, spread over eight acres, will be developed and operated through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Greater Noida Authority will hold a 26 per cent equity stake in the SPV. On the other hand, the selected industrial partner will hold the remaining 74 per cent,” Khanna said.
“The second zone will cover 61.52 acres and be developed by private enterprises through investments in industrial units and related activities. The state government will have no capital liability for the development of this zone,” he added.
For the first zone, the Greater Noida Authority will contribute Rs 21.1 crore as equity, and the state government will provide an interest-free loan of Rs 126.2 crore for 30 years. Reimbursement for the lease premium of the eight-acre land will be made to the authority through the state government’s IT and Electronics Department under the prescribed arrangement, according to an official statement.
The SPV will also receive a service charge equivalent to five per cent of the revenue generated from development charges on land allotments in the second zone, along with applicable GST, it stated.
The industrial partner will be selected through a quality-based selection process. The subsequent steps will include registration of the SPV, land allotment, execution of the lease deed and construction-related work, it added.
According to project details shared at the media briefing, commercial operations in the first zone are targeted to begin within 36 months of the SPV’s registration. The timeline may be extended to a maximum of 48 months, if required. A committee will review the project’s progress.
The park will house shared facilities such as robotics testing and certification centres, rapid prototyping facilities, AI computing infrastructure, motion-capture systems and data laboratories.
Startups and entrepreneurs will be able to access advanced testing, prototyping and graphics processing unit (GPU)-based computing facilities at affordable rates. The park is also expected to strengthen capabilities for testing robotics products against global standards and obtaining CE and UL certifications, the details stated.
The project is intended to strengthen domestic technology and manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on imports and help Indian companies develop products suited to global markets.
It is also expected to create skill-development opportunities for young people and technical workers in robotics, AI, prototyping, testing and advanced manufacturing.
“At full scale, the park is projected to generate over one lakh direct and indirect jobs and contribute around Rs 2,000 crore in annual gross value added (GVA) to Uttar Pradesh’s economy,” according to the project details shared at the briefing.
-PTI
