Revenue-rich Manesar emerges as top contender for new district race in Haryana
Manesar is emerging as a strong contender in Haryana’s race for new districts, with industrialists and residents stepping up their demand to carve out the industrial township as a separate district.
Officials and administrative circles see Manesar as one of the strongest claimants among the 12 locations seeking district status before the Haryana Reorganisation Committee. However, competing demands from Pataudi and Narnaul could make the final decision difficult.
Manesar’s case is anchored in its industrial and economic profile. IMT Manesar is home to major global manufacturing units, including those of Maruti Suzuki, Honda and Toshiba, besides thousands of automobile, electronics and pharmaceutical companies. The industrial belt contributes substantial tax revenue to the state.
The government had anticipated the township’s rapid expansion by declaring the Manesar Municipal Corporation in December 2020, incorporating more than 29 villages and new sectors. Proponents say this has already created much of the administrative framework required for a district.
The expansion of residential areas along the Dwarka Expressway corridor is also expected to add to Manesar’s urban profile, strengthening its claim as the “new Gurugram”.
Officials point out that the rapid growth of Gurugram has increased the administrative burden on the district headquarters. Several parts of Manesar are located at a considerable distance from the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner. Proponents say a separate district, along with an independent police commissionerate and permanent administrative deployment, would improve governance and law and order.
“This area contributes the maximum revenue to the state but has its own distinct needs. It’s state’s top industrial hub. The administrative distance from the Gurugram headquarters is costing us dearly. The profile of our population, our housing — everything here is different, and it deserves district status. We have already raised this demand,” said Praveen Malik, president, United Association of New Gurugram.
Manesar could also be combined with neighbouring Pataudi and Farrukhnagar to create what proponents describe as a “model district”.
Pataudi, meanwhile, has separately sought district status, with local representatives arguing that the area has remained neglected despite being close to Gurugram’s expanding real estate corridor and the freight corridor.
In Mahendragarh, residents, advocates and traders have renewed the demand to carve Narnaul out as a separate district. They cite the distance of around 25 km from the existing district headquarters and difficulties in travelling there for administrative work. The demand has earlier led to an 86-day dharna by advocates and traders.
In neighbouring Nuh, residents of Tauru are also watching the developments closely. They hope that if Manesar or Pataudi gets district status, Tauru could be merged with the new district instead of remaining part of Nuh.
The Reorganisation Committee has received 73 proposals, including 12 for creation of new districts. Hansi was declared a district last year.
“The committee is reviewing all proposals and studying the relevant factors. A final decision will be taken only once the Chief Minister approves it,” a committee member said.
Under the committee’s criteria, a new district should have 125 to 200 villages, a population of at least four lakh, an area of 80,000 hectares or more, and be 25 to 40 km from an existing district headquarters.
