Jaipur: The state govt has stepped up efforts to develop the Rajasthan Petro Zone (RPZ) at Pachpadra as a hub for downstream petrochemical industries, with petroleum and mines Additional Chief Secretary Aparna Arora reviewing investor mobilisation and infrastructure development for the project.The review meeting Wednesday, attended by senior officials of RIICO and the industries department, focused on attracting units that can utilise feedstock and by-products from the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd (HRRL) refinery-cum-petrochemical complex.Officials said 18 tripartite MoUs have already been signed for setting up industries in the petro zone. RIICO has so far allotted 46 industrial plots spread over 8.9 hectares, attracting proposed investments of around Rs 132 crore. Another five plots under Direct Land Allotment Phase-11 are under evaluation after receiving 12 applications, while applications for nine plots under Phase XII are open until July 28.RPZ is being developed by RIICO at Borawas Kalawa in Balotra, around 15 km from the HRRL refinery, to create a downstream manufacturing ecosystem based on the refinery’s products.The first phase of the petro zone, spread over 29.77 hectares, has already been developed with 75 industrial plots and eight plug-and-play factory sheds for MSMEs. RIICO is providing ready-built sheds equipped with office space, pantry, toilets and loading facilities to enable quicker commissioning of manufacturing units.Meanwhile, infrastructure development for 87.64 hectares under the second phase has been awarded at a cost of Rs 54.91 crore, while the larger Phase II, covering 213.7 hectares, is awaiting environmental clearance.
