Bahadurgarh footwear industry seeks special package in Haryana Budget

As the Haryana Government prepares to present the Budget in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday, footwear industrialists in Bahadurgarh are looking forward to a special package to strengthen the sector.

Bahadurgarh, located in Jhajjar district, has emerged as a major footwear manufacturing hub with nearly 2,500 units directly and indirectly engaged in production. The town accounts for around 60% of the country’s non-leather footwear output, manufacturing casual and formal shoes, sandals, slippers and sports footwear.

Subhash Jagga, general secretary of the Bahadurgarh Footwear Association, said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently held a pre-Budget meeting with footwear industrialists in Gurugram to seek suggestions.

“Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini held a pre-Budget meeting with footwear industrialists in Gurugram recently to invite their suggestions. We requested him to provide a special package for the footwear industry, including cheaper electricity rates, a reduction in SGST, and rebates on other taxes, to attract more units to Bahadurgarh and Rohtak,” Jagga said.

He added that the association had also raised concerns about inadequate firefighting infrastructure in Bahadurgarh. “We had also urged the CM to strengthen the firefighting system in Bahadurgarh, as firefighters currently have to be called from neighboring districts in case of massive industrial fire due to a shortage of personnel and equipment. The CM assured them that this issue would be addressed.”

Highlighting the burden of high power tariffs, Jagga said, “The high electricity rates place a heavy burden on industrialists, and reducing these rates will help them manage expenses more comfortably while offering their products at more competitive prices.”

Narendra Chhikara, vice-president of the association, said the industry is also expecting a major infrastructure announcement. “We are also hoping for an announcement on the Metro extension up to the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressway, which would make it easier for people to travel to areas surrounding KMP expressway from Delhi. It will also give a significant boost to the footwear industry,” he added.

Industrialists in Rohtak have echoed similar concerns, particularly over rising electricity charges.

Joginder Nandal, president of the IMT Udyog Welfare Association, Rohtak, said, “The recent sharp rise in fixed charges on electricity bills has placed a heavy financial burden on industrialists. This increase has also pushed up MC charges and electricity duties. We, therefore, urge the government to lower electricity rates in the Budget to provide much-needed relief to the industrial sector.”