MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Oct 1: The Jharkhand government has written a letter to the central government to reconsider the cancellation of the World Trade Centre project, foundation for which was laid by Chief Minister Hemant Soren at Dhurwa in Ranchi on 29 July 2022.
“We have requested the Department of Commerce, Government of India, to reconsider their decision to cancel the World Trade Centre project in Ranchi,” Jharkhand Industries Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel, who wrote the letter, told lagatar24.com.
The Centre had awarded the project to Ranchi for promoting exports of local products and services, and had even disbursed Rs 9.80 crore as the first instalment in 2019. On September 1, the Centre cancelled the project citing delay in the start of the project.
“We have explained that the delay was due to various reasons including the pandemic. Now that the land acquisition is done, tender process is complete and foundation stone has been laid, no further delay in execution of the project is expected,” Dadel said.
The World Trade Centre, approved by the Centre in 2018, was to be built by Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (JUIDCO) on 3.45 acres in the Core Capital Area, Dhurwa, Ranchi, at a total cost of around Rs 45 crore.
As per the plans, the centre will have all facilities related to international trade including a regional office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), state office of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), and place to exhibit products.
Other facilities at the centre include currency exchange, business centre, air cargo, ship container and export management. Dadel said that once the central government gives its approval, the World Trade Centre should be built by JUIDCO within 24 months.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) has requested Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to reconsider the decision as it has dampened the spirits of the business community in the state.
Chamber President Kishor Mantri said that the foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in the presence of the state’s stakeholders on July 29. The decision to cancel the project only after one month of foundation stone is unfair, Mantri said.
In the letter sent by the chamber, it was said that the construction of the centre in the state capital would boost the state’s trade, import and export, besides strengthening the rural economy of the state. It was requested that the consent be given soon.
