The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) received the Udyog Vikas Award at an event organised by Janmabhumi Daily, a leading Kerala-based news outlet. Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, and Steel, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, attended the event and reaffirmed the Union Government’s commitment to building next-generation Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities nationwide.During his address, Varma praised the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) at Palakkad, calling it a gamechanger for Kerala’s industrial and infrastructure landscape. He said the project would not only transform the region but also boost southern India’s industrial growth.The event included a technical session on the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme, offering insights into the strategic planning and progress of the Palakkad Industrial Smart City. Another session by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd (NLDSL) showcased digital innovations like the Logistics Data Bank (LDB) and Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).Spread over 1,710 acres across Pudussery Central, Pudussery West, and Kannambra, the Palakkad project is set to become a major hub for South India. Located just 21 km from Palakkad city, 120 km from Cochin, and 50 km from Coimbatore, the site offers strong road, rail, and air connectivity, positioning it as a strategic gateway for interstate commerce and investment.Key updates shared at the event included:81 per cent of the required land is already in possession.Environmental clearances for all land parcels were granted on January 1, 2025.A Letter of Award has been issued to the Project Management and Construction Consultant.EPC tender documents are in the final stages of preparation.NLDSL also highlighted its role in modernising India’s logistics sector. Since launching ULIP in September 2022, the platform has integrated 43 systems across 11 ministries, connected via 129 APIs and more than 1,800 data fields. Over 1,300 companies are registered on ULIP, which has enabled more than 1 billion API transactions so far — reflecting the scale of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for a unified and efficient logistics ecosystem.