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The Rise of Amravati as a Modern Textile Hub

Writer: thenewsdirtthenewsdirt
4 days ago5 min read
The Rise of Amravati as a Modern Textile Hub
The Rise of Amravati as a Modern Textile Hub

In Amravati, a transformation has been quietly building momentum. What began centuries ago with the cotton looms and the slow trade of hand-cleaned fibre has started to move in sync with modern industrial ambitions.


The city of Amravati, long connected to cotton farming, is at the heart of this shift.


A Region Rooted in Cotton


The Vidarbha region, and particularly Amravati, has been tied to cotton cultivation for generations. Long before the arrival of railways or factories, this part of India was already contributing a sizeable portion of the nation’s cotton crop.


Villages across the region cleaned raw cotton using simple hand-gins, packing the soft lint into cloth bundles for transport. These “bojas” were carried to local markets, and from there, cotton from Vidarbha found its way to other regions and even abroad.



In the pre-industrial era, Amravati wasn’t alone. It was part of a network of trading towns, such as Khamgaon, Akot, Hinganghat, and Arvi, each playing its part in the cotton trade. '


But Amravati had a natural advantage. Its position within one of India’s largest cotton-producing belts gave it the raw material necessary for growth.

This local strength supported a kind of quiet prosperity. Cotton was the foundation for the region’s identity. Even today, Vidarbha continues to contribute nearly 30% of India’s total cotton crop. The roots, it seems, run deep.


Trains, Trade, and New Directions

Textile Looms on Amravati
Textile Looms on Amravati

The arrival of the British brought with it a different kind of transformation. For all the disruption colonial rule caused in many parts of the country, it also ushered in new systems of connectivity, most notably the railways. In the 1860s, train tracks began linking Vidarbha’s cotton markets to Bombay.


Suddenly, the cotton grown in Amravati could be moved more efficiently, reaching ports faster and in greater quantities.

This change wasn’t accidental. The American Civil War had created a shortfall in the cotton supply to Britain, and India, especially regions like Vidarbha, was expected to fill the gap.

To make the most of this opportunity, colonial authorities also promoted the establishment of hydraulic pressing units. These facilities helped compress cotton more efficiently for long-distance transport, making trade clean, compact and expeditious.



Another factor that aided this shift was Sir Richard Temple’s road-building initiative in 1862. Improved roads meant better connectivity across rural and urban pockets. For traders and transporters, moving cotton became easier, faster, and more profitable.


However, the changes came at a cost. The colonial trade model was far from inclusive. The East India Company’s decision to appoint paid supervisors, known as gomasthas, changed how trade was conducted.

Weavers and traditional intermediaries found themselves pushed aside. What followed were clashes, losses, and, in many cases, migration. The old system had been efficient in its own way. The new one may have been modern, but it disrupted long-standing local networks.



A Sector Waiting to Be Unlocked


Following independence, the hope was that regions like Amravati would begin to industrialise using their agricultural strengths as a springboard.


The expectation was fair that with such a strong raw material base, textile manufacturing seemed like a natural next step.

Yet, for decades, the region remained largely focused on raw cotton production. Value addition, the part of the process where cotton is turned into fabric and garments, remained limited.


Small spinning units may have existed, but there was no coordinated push to turn Amravati into a full-fledged textile manufacturing zone.


There were some signs of movement. In the 1980s, textile units were being established in other cotton-rich areas of India. This showed that linking cotton farming with manufacturing was possible.



Still, Vidarbha continued to be known more for what it grew than what it made.


Part of the reason was infrastructure. Developing a full-scale textile ecosystem requires more than just raw cotton.

It needs electricity, skilled labour, reliable logistics, and access to markets. For years, these pieces didn’t quite come together in Amravati.


A New Chapter Begins

Amravati Textile
Amravati Textile

Things began to shift more noticeably in 2014 when political attention turned seriously towards Amravati’s industrial potential.


One of the key initiatives was the setting up of a textile hub at Nandgaon Peth. Spanning 500 hectares, this project attracted proposals from multiple textile players and saw work begin shortly after approvals were granted.


The idea was to build a textile ecosystem that connected every step of the process, from raw cotton to finished garment.


The vision gained further strength in 2023 with the launch of the PM MITRA scheme. This central government initiative focused on creating Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel hubs across India, and Amravati was selected as one of its locations.



As part of this expansion, 220 hectares were acquired, and discussions began with major textile companies, including established names like Raymond.

The plan was to create a system where cotton grown in Vidarbha could be spun, woven, stitched, and exported from the same region. It was a model that had worked elsewhere, and now it was Amravati’s turn.


To support this, textile, agriculture and finance ministries were brought together with the aim of integrating cotton production with industrial manufacturing.


Looking Ahead


The promises being made are significant. Investments worth over ₹10,000 crore are projected, with more than three lakh employment opportunities expected to follow. Of these, 15,000 jobs are planned to be direct employment within textile units.


The presence of the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) further boosts Amravati’s chances. With global connectivity becoming a reality, the city can now compete not just within India but internationally.



But opportunities always come with challenges. The costs of raw materials remain a concern, and environmental regulations are increasingly strict.

Smaller weaving units still lack the efficiencies needed to scale. Infrastructure, while improving, needs to keep pace with growing demand.


There’s also a broader question of how to make this growth inclusive. The sector will need skilled workers, and while Vidarbha has labour availability, it may not always match the skill levels required by large textile operations.


One encouraging sign is the announcement of a Garment Complex in Nagpur and the proposed Textile University for the region. While located outside Amravati, they have the potential to benefit the entire Vidarbha region.


Cotton has always been at the heart of this region. What’s changing now is the shape of its journey.



No longer content with being just a supplier of raw materials, Amravati is shaping up to take its place as a complete player in the textile chain.

The challenges are real, and the path ahead will demand consistency, adaptability, and smart planning. But the foundation is in place.


With infrastructure investments and a growing network of industry partnerships, the wheels of change are in motion.


For a region like Vidarbha, long defined by what it produces from its soil, this could be the beginning of a story that’s as much about manufacturing as it is about farming. A new identity, grounded in its past but focused firmly on the road ahead.


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