Ahmedabad-based textile industry association, Narol Textile Infrastructure and Enviro Management (NTIEM) has announced its plans to establish an integrated textile city near Ahmedabad. The association intends to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January. The textile city, part of the expansion plans for the Narol textile cluster, will encompass around 2,000 acres and involve approximately 130 processing companies. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 25,000 crore.
An important feature of the integrated textile city will be the provision of housing for employees at all levels, ranging from workers to management personnel. Additionally, the city will offer facilities such as schools and hospitals. The project is expected to create approximately 500,000 direct job opportunities, providing a significant boost to employment in the region, according to a report.
While the current market situation may not be favorable, industry sources believe that the textile city, being located in a cotton textile hub, will open up new export opportunities in the coming years. The city has been planned with these prospects in mind.
NTIEM, as a representative body for 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 manages one of Asia’s largest common effluent treatment plants (CETP), capable of treating 100 million liters per day (MLD) of wastewater from member industries. These member companies process approximately 2,800 million meters of fabric annually, 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, already a major textile manufacturing hub, is expected to experience even faster growth over the next decade. However, the spokesperson also pointed out three key challenges that need to be addressed: better infrastructure, transitioning to Zero Liquid Discharge for wastewater treatment, and skill development through manufacturing-focused education and training.
To tackle these challenges, NTIEM plans to establish the proposed city approximately 50 km from Ahmedabad. The association is seeking government support in establishing common facilities and streamlining the clearance process through a single-window system. They also suggest that individual units should be eligible for subsidies as per government policies. If all goes well, operations at the textile city are projected to commence by 2027.
The textile industry in Ahmedabad anticipates an average 10 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next decade, driven by increased demand in both domestic and export markets. The establishment of the integrated textile city is seen as a significant step towards realising this growth potential.
