Plug-and-play industrial parks to help manufacturing capability of India: Survey

India’s manufacturing sector is witnessing significant momentum, supported by ongoing improvements in infrastructure despite some remaining challenges such as land aggregation and connectivity. A recent survey by Cushman & Wakefield, which included 94 senior executives from the manufacturing and logistics sectors, revealed that 97% of respondents acknowledged substantial progress in the availability of Grade-A warehousing. Although India currently offers 0.2 square feet of quality warehousing per urban resident compared to China’s 8.6 and the United States’ (US) 47.3, the rapid expansion of plug-and-play infrastructure is emerging as a vital enabler. This progress has instilled confidence in manufacturers, with 88% scaling up operations and over 95% benefiting from enhanced logistics access enabled by government-backed initiatives.
The survey also highlights strong optimism around key government programmes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors, and the National Industrial Corridor Development, with 86% of respondents reporting positive impacts on their business operations. Additionally, 70% of companies are prepared to expand into tier II and tier III cities, encouraged by better infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, and cost advantages. While India is strengthening its manufacturing ecosystem, there is a continued focus on addressing challenges such as logistics costs, warehousing capacity, skill development, and value addition. The growth of plug-and-play industrial parks, multimodal logistics networks, and focused investments in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) productivity are expected to accelerate manufacturing expansion and elevate India’s competitiveness in the global market.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.