New Integrated Textile City Near Ahmedabad Aims to Generate 5 Lakh Jobs

Source: Times Now News

Ahmedabad-Based Textile Association Plans to Set Up 2,000-Acre Textile City Near the City, Creating 5 Lakh Jobs

The Narol Textile Infrastructure and Enviro Management (NTIEM), a textile industry association based in Ahmedabad, has revealed its plans to set up a 2,000-acre textile city near the city. The association plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January. The textile city, which is part of the expansion plans for the Narol textile cluster, will involve around 130 processing companies. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 25,000 crore.

One of the key features of the textile city will be the availability of housing for employees at all levels, from workers to managers. The city will also provide facilities such as schools and hospitals. The project is expected to create around 500,000 direct jobs, giving a major boost to employment in the region, according to TOI report.

Although the current market situation may not be conducive, industry sources believe that the textile city, which is situated in a cotton textile hub, will create new export opportunities in the future. The city has been designed with these possibilities in mind.

NTIEM, which represents 138 member companies operating in and around Ahmedabad’s Piplaj, Narol, and Pirana areas, has been actively involved in the development of the textile cluster. The association operates one of Asia’s largest common effluent treatment plants (CETP), which can treat 100 million liters per day (MLD) of wastewater from member industries. These member companies process around 2,800 million meters of fabric every year, generating a revenue of about Rs 10,000 crore and employing 150,000 people.

A spokesperson from NTIEM highlighted the challenges faced by the textile industry in recent years but expressed optimism about the future. They stated that Ahmedabad, which is already a major textile manufacturing hub, is expected to witness even faster growth in the next decade. However, the spokesperson also pointed out three key challenges that need to be addressed: better infrastructure, shifting to Zero Liquid Discharge for wastewater treatment, and skill development through manufacturing-oriented education and training.

To address these challenges, NTIEM plans to set up the proposed city around 50 km from Ahmedabad. The association is seeking government support in setting up common facilities and simplifying the clearance process through a single-window system. They also suggest that individual units should be eligible for subsidies as per government policies. If everything goes well, operations at the textile city are expected to start by 2027.

The textile industry in Ahmedabad expects an average 10 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the next decade, driven by increased demand in both domestic and export markets. The setting up of the textile city is seen as a major step towards achieving this growth potential.