Inspired by Make in India, and Make in Maharashtra, a “Make in Bhiwandi” initiative was launched on Tuesday to facilitate manufacturing companies and investors in the region. Bhiwandi in Thane is a major warehousing hub for the e-commerce and retail industry.
Launching the initiative at a city hotel, BJP MP from Bhiwandi Kapil Patil said, “The initiative aims at generating employment in the region and boosting trade and economic growth. We are launching the campaign to promote manufacturing at a macro level.”
Out of 134 villages in Bhiwandi, 60 have been included in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region where the government is likely to push development as part of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ MMR Transformation plan.
The authority has allocated Rs 150 crore towards developing two new business districts on the lines of Bandra-Kurla Complex on 800 hectares of land near Kalyan and Bhiwandi. The government plans to create infrastructure linking Bhiwandi to JNPT, and the new international airport at Navi Mumbai.
Shailesh Rajput, State Joint Director of Industries, (Konkan region), said “Bhiwandi has seen remarkable development over the last decade. Manufacturers and industrialists find it convenient to set up plants at Bhiwandi due to its proximity to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Borivali, and easy access via the Nashik and Surat Highways. We have been working towards developing Bhiwandi as a suitable location for people to live, work, earn and settle down.”
Mr Patil said, “Bhiwandi has been a warehousing hub, but there is no manufacturing here. Products manufactured outside are stored here before distribution. Similarly, we process cotton for outside producers into cloth, but we don’t manufacture it here. Make in Bhiwandi is aimed at making it a manufacturing hub. Bhiwandi can be Mumbai’s next satellite town given the fact that Mumbai Airport is barely an hour’s drive from here.”
Skill development
He said under the skill development programmes, Bhiwandi youths can get training, and manufacturers can get skilled manpower.
“Make in Bhiwandi” has found support from Torrent Power Limited, and Bhumi World Industrial Park who operate in Bhiwandi. “Torrent has been distributing 24 x 7 power to Bhiwandi for over a decade now under a unique public-private partnership. We have been successfully catering to the growing business and manufacturing needs of Bhiwandi.”
