Sanand: As many as 4,000 workers are working at the construction site of India’s first semiconductor plant at Sanand GIDC near Ahmedabad. The work is underway as per schedule by executing agency Tata Projects and the site is expected to be handed over to the U.S . based semicon firm Micron after its completion on time.

The ambitious project involves a massive construction effort, including 150,000 cubic meters of concrete and 30,000 tons of steel.  This construction follows an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract, which covers the entire building and the installation of a clean room. As of now, 60% of the construction work is complete, while the remaining 40% of the project, which is critical to the plant’s operations, is well underway. Structurally, 70% of the overall construction has been finished.

Alongside Tata Projects, an American team from AMTS is collaborating on the site. The plant, once operational, will serve as a hub for the testing and assembly of semiconductors. Notably, this is the first project in India where a modular steel structure has been used. This modular approach allows for the efficient installation of various Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) components, which can easily be placed at height.

A significant portion of the plant’s equipment is expected to arrive in Sanand by April 2025. Around 70 to 80% of the required equipment will be shipped from various countries, including the United States and Germany. The first phase of construction is taking place on a 50-acre plot of land, with 20 acres dedicated to the building’s footprint. The overall project will span around 100 acres over two phases.  Construction for the second phase is yet not awarded.

A key feature of the plant will be the clean room, measuring 350 meters by 150 meters. This specially designed area will ensure the utmost purity of the products, with strict rules prohibiting exposure of skin in the clean room.

The current construction phase is in the “clean” stage, but it will progress into an even more precise “ultra-clean” stage as the project moves forward. Tata Projects has been actively involved in constructing other semiconductor plants in Dholera and Assam, contributing to the growing semiconductor infrastructure in India.

By April 2025, Tata Projects will require a workforce of 7,000 people at the Sanand site. At present, 4,000 workers are employed at the site, with 550 of them being direct employees of Tata Projects. Despite the substantial workforce, the project has faced some challenges. Last year, heavy monsoon rains led to the overflow of the Narmada Canal, submerging the site which is located 5 meters below the ground level. To prevent such issues in the future, a compound wall has been constructed around the plant to protect it from floodwater. Additionally, the state-run GIDC is working on improving the Narmada Canal to prevent any further disruptions.

Sharing these details, Subramani Selvam, the project leader for Tata Projects at Sanand, highlighted the ongoing Skill learning process among the workers. Selvam who has worked in this industry abroad previously expressed confidence that the skills developed through this project will be instrumental for the development of other semiconductor plants across the country in the future. He noted that the skill learning curve is very high.  DeshGujarat