What Yogi govt's industrial zones named after Sardar Patel aim to achieve

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the launch of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment and Industrial Zones across all districts of the state, positioning them as integrated hubs that combine industrial development, skill training and employment generation at a single location.

The scheme was announced recently to mark UP Diwas, observed from January 24 to 26. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to identify suitable land at the earliest in every district and begin implementation of the project in a time-bound manner.

Chairing a meeting on the project, Adityanath said the objective of the state’s industrial policy was to directly link industrial growth with jobs. “The goal of Uttar Pradesh’s industrial policy is to create a capable ecosystem where youth can access skill development, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within a single campus,” he said.

According to the plan discussed in the meeting, Employment and Industrial Zones will be developed in a phased manner in all districts, with each zone spread over a minimum 50 acres. Officials said a balanced layout has been proposed, comprising industrial areas, flatted factories, commercial zones, roads, service-sector spaces, green areas, common facilities and office infrastructure.

Adityanath said the initiative aims to ensure the integrated availability of departments and facilities related to industry, skill development, employment, self-employment and industrial support. He stressed on the need to align the project with local requirements and regional potential so that each zone responds to district-specific economic strengths.

A key focus area is plug-and-play infrastructure. Adityanath laid special emphasis on the development of modern facilities, such as plug-and-play units and flatted factories, to promote MSMEs, service-based industries and innovation-linked sectors, allowing entrepreneurs to begin operations with basic infrastructure already in place.

Officials informed in the meeting that the zones would house common facility centres, testing facilities, display and design centres, tool rooms, effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), along with plug-and-play units and flatted factories. In addition to industrial infrastructure, the same campus would also provide entrepreneurship training, mentoring, information on various loan schemes, and handholding support for skill upgradation of youth.

The proposal also includes the establishment of a Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment and Skill Development Centre within each zone. This centre would have training halls, conference rooms, extension counters and facilities related to industry support.

Under the operational model discussed, arrangements would be made for self-employment and entrepreneurship training, skill development programmes, internships, apprenticeships and wage-based employment in industries operating within or linked to the zone.

“The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment and Industrial Zone will emerge as a strong centre of employment, skill and entrepreneurship for the youth of the state,” Adityanath said. He directed officials to expedite site identification and implementation so that the initiative can serve as an effective model of industrial development and employment generation.

Beyond its economic factors, the naming and timing of the project carry political resonance. By invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a national figure often claimed by the BJP as a symbol of unity and strong governance, the scheme aligns with the party’s broader political narrative. Announced on UP Diwas and pitched as a statewide employment model, the project allows the government to foreground jobs, skills and entrepreneurship ahead of the assembly elections in 2027, while pushing economic policy in a nationalist and legacy-driven framework.

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