Four years after announcement, infra works at electronic cluster in Ranjangaon gather pace

Pune: The electronics manufacturing cluster being developed in Ranjangaon is likely to begin attracting industry interest within the next three to four months, as govt nears completion of key infrastructure and prepares to invite investment bids.The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has constructed ready-to-use sheds capable of accommodating around 60 manufacturing units. Spread across 297 acres, the project has a total investment of Rs 492 crore, with MIDC contributing Rs 285 crore and Centre Rs 208 crore.Infrastructure development within the cluster is progressing steadily. About 85% of the main road network has been completed, while work on internal roads is ongoing. An elevated water storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 cusecs is also nearing completion. Power supply will be ensured through a 220 KV feeder from the Ranjangaon substation, officials said.They said the main water pipeline was expected to be completed in about one-and-a-half months, while temporary water arrangements would be made available immediately. Road connectivity outside the MIDC area might, however, take up to one-and-a-half years due to land acquisition processes involving multiple authorities, the officials said. “We have developed the area as plug-and-play facility with all the basic infrastructure requirements. There is a flexible approach in developing the manufacturing units such that the investing companies can install their setup as quickly as possible and with little alterations,” superintendent engineer, Nilesh Modhave, MIDC, told TOI.Two major electronics manufacturers have already established units in the cluster over the past six months. Additionally, 20% of the land has been reserved for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the state’s industrial policy, another official said.Companies investing in the cluster will be eligible for a range of incentives under the 2025 policy framework. These include capital, power, interest, research and production-linked subsidies, depending on eligibility. Both MSMEs and large firms in key sectors, including export-oriented and circular economy projects, can benefit from capital subsidies, along with stamp duty concessions and employment-linked incentives.The cluster was first announced in 2022 by the ministry of electronics and information technology, which projected that it could attract investments worth Rs 2,000 crore. The Ranjangaon facility is part of a broader network of electronics manufacturing clusters being planned across 13 states, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.