Bhiwandi is a commercial city and a major trade center that connects Mumbai and the rest of India through the Mumbai–Agra highway. It is known for its textile industry, though in recent years, economic downturn has forced the closure of a large portion of the sector.[1]
Bhiwandi lies in the Konkani coastal lowland, a region known geographically for its hills and streams. The city houses the tehsil headquarters of Bhiwandi, and it is administered by the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation.
Business and employment
The city of Bhiwandi has the largest number of power looms and handlooms in the country.[2][3][4] The majority of the population is employed in the power loom sector.[5] The second-largest power loom, after the one in Surat, Gujarat, is located in Bhiwandi. Since 2012, the city's textile industry has been in decline, partly caused by the sudden enactment of new goods and services taxes.[6] Another concern facing textile producers is a lack of contact with buyers, leading many to sell primarily to middlemen, mostly from Gujarat, who charge significant markup prices.[7]
Bhiwandi initially developed as an industrial hub for the textile industry, but more recently has hosted other industries and logistics sectors. Bhiwandi is among Asia's biggest warehousing hubs; its godowns are considered Asia's largest.[8] It is a major contributor to the logistic landscape of Mumbai and India due to its close proximity to the Nhava Seva port of Mumbai, India's financial capital. Many e-commerce companies like Delhivery, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Industries, Snapdeal, and FedEx have branches in the city. The city is the next developed region for MMRDA, which has developed other regions such as the Bandra–Kurla Complex, Mumbai Metro, Monorail Project, and Eastern Freeway.[9]
Bhiwandi's economy is divided into three sectors: textiles, groceries, and service (supplying, logging, and food delivery). During the COVID-19 pandemic, small hotels faced significant challenges.[10]
Infrastructure
Bhiwandi has a large water treatment plant at Panjrapur with 455 MLD capacity, making it one of the largest water treatment plants in Asia.[11]
Bhiwandi has a central railway station at Anjur Phata. The train station has a link with the central railways and the local train of Mumbai as well. Bhiwandi Metro Project (Mumbai Metro line 5) is proposed to be completed in 2025.[12]
