West Bengal has launched a geographical information system (GIS) mapping exercise covering 570 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) clusters to identify infrastructure gaps, assess land availability and map workers’ skills.
The initiative aims to help the state government make faster decisions on industrial support and give businesses easier access to information needed to establish operations. The project also covers the handloom and khadi sectors and the MSME department expects to publish the findings on its website.
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GIS Mapping to Identify Infrastructure Gaps Across 570 Clusters
“The exercise would document infrastructure, land availability, and workers’ skills in industrial clusters. The government expected to complete the mapping project within one month of the announcement,” said Rajesh Pandey, former secretary of West Bengal’s MSME department.
The survey aims to show where facilities and services are lacking, allowing the administration to plan improvements and direct support where needed.
Geographical information system mapping uses location-based data to organise information about physical places. In this case, it is intended to give the government a clearer picture of the resources available across the state’s MSME clusters.
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Digital Platform to Help Businesses Access Industrial Information
The mapped data is expected to serve as a reference for entrepreneurs and investors seeking information about industrial locations and available resources. Businesses will be able to check details on land, workforce skills, and the services required to set up operations, Pandey said.
The project forms part of the state’s broader e-governance efforts to make business clearances available without physical contact. Another state official said the aim was to move the entire clearance process to a digital platform.
The report said the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) had also posted details of industrial plots on its website. The state government said West Bengal’s MSME clusters rose from 30 to 570 over the past decade, reflecting the expansion of its cluster network.
The initiative also comes amid efforts to build GIS-enabled databases of industrial areas across several states to support logistics planning.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
