The Centre, on Wednesday, cleared as many as six proposals to set up Special Economic Zone (SEZ) including two proposals of Bangalore-based Infosys to set up SEZ in Information Technology (IT) sector in Andhra Pradesh.

These proposals were cleared by Board of Approval (BOA) — single window clearing agency for approval of SEZ — at its meeting chaired by Commerce Secretary G K Pillai here.

The BOA took up eight applications for setting up SEZs, including three  proposals for conversion of in-principle approvals to formal approvals. The board recommended grant of 4 formal approvals and two in-principle approvals. With this the total number of SEZ cleared by BOA rose to nearly 550.

Formal approvals

The government has so far given 364 formal approvals and 180 in-principle approvals. Apart from IT major Infosys’ proposal for two SEZs in Rangareddy district in Andhra Pradesh, the BOA gave formal approval to BPO firm Genpact to establish one in Jaipur also in IT and IT Enabled Service (ITeS) sector.

Enfield Infrastructure was given a green signal from the BOA for an IT SEZ at South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. The board also accorded in principle approvals for multi product SEZ by Ispat Industries Limited and a biotech SEZ by Veritas Infrastructure Development Limited in Maharashtra. Mr Pillai informed that over Rs 45,377 crore has been invested in 136 notified SEZs and these SEZs would be providing direct employment to over 38,405 persons. The BOA, however, deferred two proposals from Adarsh Prime Projects and Blue Vision Construction.