Gujarat's Chemical Corridor

How Gujarat became India's chemical hub with clusters at Ankleshwar, Vapi and Dahej, the advantages of ports and feedstocks, and the pollution problems.

Gujarat produces a large share of India’s chemicals.

Clusters

Ankleshwar and Vapi: industrial estates with thousands of chemical units.
Dahej: a large petrochemical and chemical hub on the coast.
Jamnagar: Reliance’s refinery complex.

Advantages

Ports for importing raw materials and exporting products.
Refineries supplying feedstocks.
Industrial estates set up by GIDC.
Entrepreneurial business communities.

Pollution

Vapi and Ankleshwar were once listed among India’s most critically polluted industrial areas.
The Central Pollution Control Board imposed moratoriums on new units at times.
Common effluent treatment plants were built.

Balance

Gujarat balances industrial growth with environmental clean-up.

Lesson

Clusters bring efficiency but can concentrate pollution.

The Dahej hub

At Dahej, a chemical plant receives feedstock by pipeline from a neighbouring petrochemical complex and exports products through the nearby port.

Thinking chemicals are made evenly across India

Gujarat produces a large share.

Key takeaways

Gujarat is India's chemical hub.
Ankleshwar, Vapi and Dahej are major clusters.
Ports and refineries give advantages.
Clusters faced severe pollution problems.