The government has given the go-ahead for 18 special economic zones in the country as the Board of Approval cleared 28 proposals, including those of JSW Bengal Steel, Larsen and Toubro and Bharat Forge, involving investment of over Rs72,000 crore.

The 17 SEZ proposals that received the go-ahead have land in possession, while the other 10 that received in-principle green signal are yet to acquire land.
  
The projects approved include a Rs11,340 crore multi-product project by EMPI Vittal, to be set up over 1,100 hectares in Gujarat. One of the largest SEZs, the project is being promoted by former Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal.

JSW Bengal Steel proposes to invest Rs15,321 crore in a 1,804-hectare multi-product SEZ in West Bengal.

Other proposals cleared  include a 779 hectare aluminium project zone in Andhra Pradesh, by Anrak Aluminium, involving investment of Rs9,900 crore and  Orient Craft's Rs540 crore IT SEZ in Gurgaon.

Bharat Forge will set up a 1,271 hectare multi-product zone in Maharashtra envisaging investment of over Rs5,000 crore.

Skil Infrastructure got in-principle nod for setting up an airport-based multi-product zone in Himachal Pradesh. The project, to come up in a  3,230 hectare area, is expected ti attract investment of Rs4,392 crore.

Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding is setting up a Rs1,665 crore heavy engineering SEZ in Tamil Nadu.

The Board of Approval considered a total of 35 proposals for setting up special economic zones. The BoA has so far given formal nod to 513 SEZs, of which 250 have been notified and 87 zones are operational.