The Belgaum Chamber of Commerce & Industries (BCCI) recently presented a memorandum to Shri Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Hon’ble Minister for Small Scale Industries, Karnataka, emphasizing the untapped potential and developmental requirements of Belagavi district.
Strategic Importance of Belagavi
Belagavi enjoys a unique strategic advantage due to its location at the borders of Goa and Maharashtra. It is equidistant from major cities such as Bengaluru (500 km), Mumbai (500 km), Hyderabad (550 km), and just 80 km from Goa. Two major highways traverse Belagavi, facilitating seamless access to north-south and east-west directions.
The district boasts one of the country’s oldest airports and enjoys a favorable climate. With the presence of the Vishweshwaraya Technological University (VTU) and numerous educational institutions, Belagavi is a prominent educational hub. Additionally, it hosts the revenue divisional office controlling seven districts in North Karnataka.
Belagavi is home to over 60,000 registered MSMEs, with approximately 35,000 listed under Udyam. It is a recognized hub for hydraulics, foundries, automobiles, and crankshaft manufacturing. Despite its industrial prominence, many businesses and workers are drawn to neighboring states due to insufficient infrastructure, limited connectivity, and a lack of large-scale industrial development.
Challenges and Opportunities
Belagavi’s strategic position in the Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor is underutilized due to inadequate air, rail, and road connectivity. However, with the right impetus and infrastructure development, Belagavi has the potential to contribute significantly to Karnataka’s economic growth and generate higher state revenue.
Key Demands for Industrial and Infrastructure Development
1. Manufacturing Industry Development
- Establish a 2,000-acre industrial estate with world-class infrastructure to attract PSUs, large-scale industries, and MNCs (as announced in the last Winter Session).
- Develop a 500-acre Foundry Park, including 100 acres for hydraulics and general engineering industries (also announced in the last Winter Session).
- Declare Belagavi a Drone Manufacturing Hub and invest in its development.
- Build flatted factory complexes for MSMEs and startups at affordable rates.
- Facilitate private industrial estates ranging from 10 to 50 acres as a special initiative for Belagavi.
- Define clear industrial zones with buffer zones to prevent encroachment by residential and commercial establishments.
2. Connectivity Enhancements
Roads:
- Plan and construct a ring road to streamline goods movement and benefit exporters and manufacturers.
- Widen and develop the National Highway connecting Belagavi and Goa via Chorla Ghat through NHAI.
Rail:
- Develop a direct rail route connecting Kolhapur, Belagavi, and Hubballi along the National Highway corridor.
Air:
- Modernize Belagavi airport and expand its capacity.
- Introduce direct flights to Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Pune.
- Add two daily morning flights to Bengaluru.
3. Logistics Support
- Expedite the establishment of an air cargo terminal at Belagavi Airport to facilitate exports.
4. Industrial Amenities
- Construct the new ESIC hospital in the Udyambag/Machhe industrial area, as committed during the Winter Session 2021.
- Plan separate feeders for existing and upcoming industrial estates under ECOMS.
5. Financial Assistance
- Release pending subsidies for MSMEs immediately.
- Provide 50% subsidy for new entrepreneurs and for upgrading existing units.
This is something industry is asking, which is long overdue
Environmental assessment is also key for decision to establish new industry infrastructure
Demand of Belgaum chamber of commerce is correct, as in 2nd Lane, Hawaii nagar, Machhe, in Residential area there r many small machine shops in houses r working from Marni g 7 to night 8 creating nuisance, n Labour officer who looks this may hv granted license n Hubli electrify board has haven them heavy cable, by which many Industrialist r supplying work for getting finished work because this helps them evade GST, who creating loss to our Indian as well State Govt. HOPE Belgaum Industrialists looks into d matter n warn these industrialists, further Income Tax Depy is sleeping g without inspecting such unlawful evading GST industries.
Law must b one to all citizens, if machine shops r in residential area making nuisances, then machine shops in residential areas of industrialists hv to b created for which Factory Inspectors hv to grant licenses, Hubli electricity board has to grant heavy duty cable permission to such industries, income tax dept shd not look into evading Gst by such machine shop owners.