Gwalior to Get Asia's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone

Gwalior is set to emerge as a significant telecom manufacturing center with the upcoming development of the country’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ). The estimated investment for the project amounts to ₹5,500 crore and is set to create more than 18,000 job opportunities. Recently, Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, inspected the proposed site at Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Counter Magnet City (SADA). The TMZ will be home to various telecom manufacturers, resulting in an industrial cluster and not a manufacturing unit alone.

Key Features of the Gwalior Telecom Manufacturing Zone

The proposed TMZ will consist of 24-25 telecom manufacturers who are expected to manufacture various telecom equipment and devices.

During the first phase, it is proposed to have an area of about 170 acres. Around 90 acres are located in SADA and 70+ acres are in the IT Park.

Project: Telecom Manufacturing Zone
Location: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
Investment: ₹5,500 crore
Direct employment: 18,000+
First phase land: 170 acres
Proposed units: 24-25
Applying Companies: 24
Common Testing Lab: ₹500 crore

24 Companies Start Application Process

An MoU between the Department of Telecommunications and the government of Madhya Pradesh for the TMZ was signed in July 2026.

After that, investor road shows were conducted in Delhi and Mumbai in August. In Delhi, the road show garnered commitment of about ₹3,500 crore with a possibility of generating about 14,000 jobs. While in Mumbai, the road show earned commitments of ₹2,000 crore with the possibility of generating 4,000 more jobs.

As a result of all this, 24 companies have started applying for their manufacturing plants to be built in the proposed zone.

Incentives for Telecom Manufacturers

The government of Madhya Pradesh has made a special incentive package for the telecom manufacturing industry.

The package consists of incentives on lease of land, electricity, employment/production along with incentives on environmental sustainability/green growth.

There is also a Common Testing Lab that has been proposed by the Department of Telecommunications at a cost of ₹500 crore.

Connectivity for the Facilitation of Industry Development

Connectivity of Gwalior is projected to facilitate development of the manufacturing zone.

Construction of approximately 120 km Agra-Gwalior high-speed corridor will provide enhanced connectivity with Delhi and other important market centers in Northern part of India.

It also has connectivity through important railway routes that help in the facilitation of the transportation of goods and labor. The airport of Gwalior, constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs. 650 Crore facilitates air connectivity with important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Human Resources in Gwalior

Gwalior also has a good base for technical education. Approximately 25,000 engineering students pass out each year from Gwalior and its vicinity which can be used as skilled human resource for telecom manufacturing.

In this context, the proposed TMZ would have the following three major necessities as its core objectives.