Bizmen demand revival of sewing machine cluster

Ludhiana: Sewing machine industry of Ludhiana is demanding the revival of its industrial cluster at Raikot where the sewing machine and parts manufacturers were to set-up their units along with the common facility centres. The cluster, however, could not take off due to the previous governments failing to provide basic infrastructures like roads, sewerage system and boundary walls. Businessmen are demanding that the new government takes initiative and revives this project so that sewing machine industry can setup base here and produce latest products.
Jagbir Singh Sokhi, president of Sewing Machine Technology Park Cluster, said, “During the tenure of previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government, huge chunk of land was earmarked for sewing machine industry cluster in Raikot. But due to non existent infrastructure, especially roads and lack of proper promotion of the project, there were only few takers. What is worse is that, even after Congress took over the charge of the state in 2017, nothing changed and this project remained defunct due to apathy of the departments concerned.”
Sokhi also added, “Ludhiana is the biggest hub of sewing machine industry in the country and there are many industrialists who are still willing to set-up their units in this project at Raikot, but only if the roads and other infrastructures are first made there. We request the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to take notice of this project, which is nothing less than a load on the government resources and revive it at the earliest so that it become asset for the state and the sewing machine industry as well.”
According to Kulwant Singh, general secretary of Sewing Machine Development Club (SMDC), “About 31 acre of land is lying unused at the Raikot cluster for sewing machine industry, which otherwise can help in setting up of units specialising in production of the modern sewing machines, which are presently being imported from countries like China. If this project is revived and industry sets up base there it will also help in boosting employment and also lead to huge revenue generation for the state government which is facing cash crunch at this moment.”