Baddi gets land to set up business and convention centre

The industrial town of Baddi will soon have an exposition-cum-convention centre. The Himachal Pradesh government has earmarked 33 bighas (approximately 6.6 acres) for the business-cum-exposition centre, which would be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

This was said by Parminder Mathur, additional chief secretary and secretary(industries), Himachal Pradesh in an interaction with Business Standard.

She said, "Considering the rapid industralisation in the area and demand of industralists of the area, the state government has decided to set up the centre equipped with all modern amenities to facilitate industries."

Welcoming the move, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council R Guleria said, "After the notification of industrial package by the Centre, a majority of industries zeroed in Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh and Parwanoo area. As a result, 70 per cent of the total industries in the state are situated in these areas. So, the convention-cum-exposition centre was much needed and the announcement by the state government is a positive step. It is likely to give further fillip to the industralisation process."

At present, the state has 33,888 units in small sector and 369 units in medium and large sector.

Forge(India) Private Ltd Managing Director & CEO, Alok Sharma said, "The demand for setting up the centre was in discussion between the industry association and the state government. The decision for setting up the centre is a boon for the industries of the area, which is perhaps one of the biggest industrial area of the northern region."

Also, to regulate the haphazard industrial development taking place in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh belt, the state government has set up a Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) for the planned development of the region.

Moreover, a comprehensive master plan is also being prepared through reputed consultants for the planned development of the area. The state government has spent Rs 90 crore for the development of the area and has further alloted Rs 25 crore to BBNDA.