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In Aurangabad, there is a new buzz and excitement in the air, the old din of factories making utensils and cloth has been replaced by the gunning of Audi and Skoda, which are now manufactured there.
After Mumbai and Pune, Aurangabad is the fastest growing industrial city in Maharashtra with over 85 large units and foreign direct investment of over Rs 5, 000 crore.
In the last 10 years, the city has transformed from a sleepy provincial town to a throbbing industrial hub, providing direct and indirect employment to a 25,000 strong workforce.
The glitz and the high growth of the city did not happen just like that. Consistent efforts right from 1960s by local leaders such as Mr Govind Shroff and Mr Anand Bhadkamkar led to the formation of the industrial estate at Chikalthana, under the command of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Subsequently, MIDC added Waluj, Shendra and Railway Station industrial estates to its kitty.
Prime industrial centre
The Chikalthana Industrial Area is a prime industrial centre developed by MIDC with a total area of 719.68 hectares. Today, this estate has the largest concentration of foreign direct investment with renowned companies, including Wockhardt, Maharashtra Distilleries Ltd, Lupin, Indo-German Tool Room, Greeves, Cosmo Films, Hindustan Lever Ltd, HMT, and NRB, having their manufacturing units there.
Mr Mukund Bhogale, Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry Marathwada Zonal Council and Managing Director of Nirlep Appliances, said that Aurangabad has a large base of auto companies such as Bajaj, Skoda and Audi. Besides, a number of auto ancillaries are also based here. Pharma companies such as Lupin, Wockhardt and Ajanta Pharma have bases here. Large breweries such as UB and Fosters also have units here, he said.
The district has major investments from Videocon Industries. Several agri processing companies have presence here. The German Multinational Siemens has a large establishment for rolling stock and switchgear in Aurganabad. Sterlite proposes to invest around Rs 4,000 crore in a project, Mr Bhogale said.
“The advantage of this region is that it is well connected by road, air and rail, besides land is available at cheaper prices than Pune and Mumbai. Wages are also 30-40 per cent lower than these areas. There are very few labour issues here, and there are good social infrastructure like schools which translates into a skilled workforce,” Mr Bhogale said.
Bajaj Auto is the oldest and the most dominant among the auto players in Aurangabad. The industrial opportunities grew exponentially in the region with Bajaj putting up its plant there in 1970s. A number of ancillary units were also able to establish shops, catering to the spare-parts requirements of Bajaj's assembly line.
Eco-friendly estate
The Shendra industrial estate is now being converted into an eco-friendly industrial estate. It would be the first green industrial estate in the State. The Japanese government is in the process of granting funds for the project, which would be designed along the lines of the world famous Kitakyushu industrial areas in Japan.
It would be one of the three pollution-free industrial estates in the country to be set up in association with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The other two will come up in Haryana and Gujarat. All kinds of waste generated at Shendra area would be recycled, leaving cleaner skies, clean water sources and soil without toxins.
Emerging IT hub
As IT industry can no longer expand in Mumbai and Pune due to paucity of space. Companies are looking at cities like Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur for setting up their new offices. Aurangabad is preferred by IT companies as it is closer to Pune and has infrastructure such as electricity, broadband connectivity, roads, airport, affordable housing, and recreation facilities.
The State Government has already initiated a 12-acre IT Park in Chikhalthana industrial estate. Out of 37 units about 14 units have already been allocated to the companies.
Mr B. Venkatraman, Convenor of Manufacturers Excellence Panel in Marathwada, and Senior General Manager, NRB Bearings, said that the benefits of the region include proximity to industrial centres, like Pune, and the fact that land is easily available due to prior acquisition and creation of land bank by the MIDC. A new seven-star industrial estate is also coming up at Shendre with excellent infrastructure like roads and power, he said.
At the historical crossroads
“Educational standards of the region is also very good, there are more that 100 Industrial Training Institutes in the region, which provide skilled workers. On the power front, we had shortages two years back but now there is availability round the clock. Moreover, the administration is also hassle free,” Mr Venkatraman said.
Aurangabad was a major silk and cotton textile production centre. A fine blend of silk with locally grown cotton was developed as Himroo textile.
The silk industry has vanished over time, but some manufacturers have managed to keep the tradition alive with Paithani silk saris.
The city has been on the tourist map for 50 years due to world-famous Ajanta and Ellora caves and the Daulatabad fort.
About a million tourists from India and abroad visit the city every year. Tourist are also attracted to the Bibika Maqbara mausoleum, a well-known landmark in city. It is designed on the similar lines of Taj Mahal at Agra.
Bibika Maqbara is also called the poor man's Taj Mahal. It was built in 1657 by Prince Muhammad Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb, in memory of his mother Dilras Banu.
A small archaeological museum is located behind the mausoleum.
A panchakki (water wheel) is another tourist attraction, and for good reason.
Aurangabad received its first underground water system during the period of Malik Amber. T
he waterfall at Panchakki is supplied through a canal.
The canal originates near the Jatwada hills and the water travels 5 km before filling the tank at Panchakki.
The force of the falling water is used to turn the blades of a mill for grinding corn.
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