The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is in the process of setting up two Greenfield electronic manufacturing clusters (EMC) at Purva in Jabalpur and Badwai in Bhopal. These manufacturing clusters are likely to be operationalised by 2016. The Bhopal facility is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 50,000 people while the Jabalpur unit is expected to provide employment to 10,000 people.
The EMC at Purva will be spread over 40 acres and is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 380 million, of which the central government is providing Rs 177.5 million as grant. The EMC at Badwai will be spread over an area of 50 acres and is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 470 million, of which government will provide Rs 210 million as a grant.
The EMC in Bhopal is likely to focus on production of telecom and IT hardware systems. This facility will include major manufacturing units such as Bharat Business Channel (Videocon Group) for manufacturing of set top boxes. Other units such as EVDAT Software Technologies Private Limited and Heaven Techno System Private Limited have also shown interest and have given commitments of setting up of manufacturing facilities in this EMC.
