After 2 setbacks, Rajpura braces for big leap with industrial smart city project

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 31

After two industrial projects failed to see light of the day in the state, the Central Government has finally given green signal for setting up an industrial smart city project on 1,099 acres of land. The land was earlier purchased in 2020 during the Congress government in the state for setting up an integrated manufacturing cluster.

With the Centre’s help, the state planned to develop three mega industrial parks over 1,000 acre each to cater to the demands of the industry – one with special emphasis on textile industry near Mattewara (Ludhiana), a bulk drug park was proposed in Bathinda and an integrated manufacturing cluster was conceptualised on the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor near Rajpura in Patiala district.

While the Mattewara project was scrapped following intense protest by civil society groups and environmentalists, the bulk drug park in Bathinda also did not see the light of the day and the proposed park was shifted to Himachal Pradesh.

To begin with, the Central Government has agreed to invest Rs 1,367 crore under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. The smart city is projected to garner an investment of Rs 7,500 crore and estimated to generate an employment potential of over 64,000.

In addition to industry, it will also have residential, primary school, convention centre/institutional site, dispensary, centre for excellence, commercial spaces, skill development institute canteen, nursing home, public utility, police post, shop-cum-offices, hotel, district centre, guard’s booth, water reservoir, water treatment plant, ground storage reservoir, elevated storage reservoir, solid waste management, common effluent treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, substation, fire station, fuel station, parking and bus terminal.

Former MP and BJP leader Preneet Kaur expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative, calling it a testament to Punjab’s importance in national planning. “The PM had promised and he had delivered. The setting up of this industrial smart city will open new avenues for the people of Patiala. Instead of visiting other towns for work, people from other towns will now come to Rajpura for a better future,” Kaur said.

However, not all are as optimistic. The industry association president demanded immediate restoration of the existing Focal Point area

in Rajpura.

Deepak Shrivastav, President of the Micro, Small, and Medium Industry Welfare Association, has voiced concerns about the current state of Rajpura’s existing industrial areas. “The existing Focal Point in Rajpura is in a dilapidated condition. The roads are full of potholes and due to the absence of basic amenities, industries are leaving the town and moving to other states,” Shrivastav said. He urged the government to prioritise the restoration of these areas before embarking on the new project.

Shrivastav also highlighted the negative impact of the ongoing farmer protest at Shambhu. “The blockade at Shambhu has been detrimental for the industry here. With NH-44 blocked, the transportation of both finished goods and raw materials is getting delayed, which is hurting business,” he added.

Strategic location of town

• The planned industrial smart city will focus on sectors such as electronics, textiles, food and beverages, rubber, plastic, metal, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and machinery
• Rajpura’s strategic location near Mohali, Chandigarh, Patiala, and its connectivity to NH-44 and the Chandigarh and Amritsar airports, makes it a prime location for development
• The Centre’s nod for developing industrial smart city at Rajpura has come at a time when farmer unions are protesting at Shambhu border, barely 15 km from Rajpura