Jaipur, Sept. 12 -- The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) has relaxed the timelines for entrepreneurs to complete industrial projects and begin commercial production in areas where basic infrastructure is not yet available, in a move aimed at promoting investment and improving the ease of doing business in the state. An official release states, that the RIICO has partially amended Rules 21 and 3(AJ) of the RIICO Disposal of Land Rules, 1979, allowing additional time to industrial units allotted plots in areas that have not yet been declared developed. Under the revised provisions, the deadline for completing various intermediate stages of a project and starting commercial production will get an extension until one year after the date on which the industrial area is declared developed. At present, under e-auction or the Direct Allotment Scheme-2025, an entrepreneur is required to take possession of an allotted plot within a period of one month. If possession is not taken within the stipulated period, deemed possession is treated as having been granted, following which the timeline for completing construction and commencing commercial production begins. The existing rules prescribe two years for projects that do not require environmental clearance and three years for projects that require such clearance to begin commercial production. Entrepreneurs had raised concerns with RIICO that completing projects within these timelines was often difficult when essential infrastructure such as approach roads, internal roads and electricity was not available in the industrial area. Failure to complete prescribed intermediate stages within the stipulated time could also attract penalties. Taking these practical difficulties into account, RIICO has now revised the timelines. For projects that do not require environmental clearance, commercial production will have to begin within two years from the date of plot allotment or one year from the date the industrial area is declared developed, whichever is later. For projects requiring environmental clearance, commercial production will have to begin within three years from the date of plot allotment or one year from the date the industrial area is declared developed, whichever is later. The revised provisions will come into effect from the date of implementation of the Direct Allotment Scheme. The changes will also provide relief to some entrepreneurs who were allotted plots earlier. If a penalty has already been imposed on previously allotted plots for non-compliance with intermediate project milestones, the amount can be adjusted against advance outstanding charges under the amended provisions. RIICO said the changes were aimed at making the timelines for utilisation of industrial plots and commencement of commercial production more practical and aligned with ground realities....