Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (Bhavya) portal on Monday, marking a shift from the land acquisition struggles of the 1980s to a modern plug-and-play era for industry. Drawing from his own experience of making over 90 trips to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation office in Vakola during the mid-1980s to secure a 2,930 square meter plot in Dombivli, Goyal emphasized that the new portal would spare young entrepreneurs and foreign investors from such bureaucratic hurdles through transparent, single-window access.
Key Features of the Bhavya Portal
The portal integrates Google Maps and satellite imagery, allowing investors to assess connectivity, plot size, and neighboring units before applying. In a forward-looking suggestion, Goyal proposed a premium pricing model for investors who wish to avoid polluting neighbors. He stated, "We could have a premium rate if somebody says I want this piece of land, but I don't want my neighbours to be polluting entities. We can charge a premium and maybe work out a balance. People may also get a chance to choose their neighbours." This approach aims to give industries more control over site selection and their operating environment.
Investment and Job Creation
The government has earmarked Rs 34,000 crore (approximately $4 billion) for the development of 100 industrial parks in plug-and-play mode. Goyal highlighted that the scheme would catalyze a large amount of investment, create significant jobs directly and indirectly, and provide social infrastructure of a kind never before offered in industrial parks, demonstrating centre-state partnership at its best.
Phased Rollout and State Requirements
The rollout is designed for speed. Phase 1 will clear 20 parks from applications received between June 1 and July 31, with an additional 30 parks cleared by September 30. A second phase will follow based on learnings from the first. States must set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) before applying, a change from previous NICDIT parks where SPV creation took months. Goyal warned, "First 20 parks... I'm not even allowing anybody to apply unless they've made the SPV in advance."
Support for MSMEs
For Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the minister is open to tweaks such as flatted factories if industry associations aggregate demand and specify requirements. He stressed that management should be handled by private service companies responsible for electricity, water, sewage, and labour compliance, allowing MSMEs to focus on production. Warehousing and airstrip provisions will be linked to industry type, and land valuation will follow established state methodologies, not ad-hoc pricing.
Competition Among States
With 22 NDA-ruled states already on board, Goyal urged all states to compete for investments. He advised business people to negotiate with different states to get the best deal for setting up their plants, subject to port connectivity and other requirements.
Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
Goyal expressed that the goal is to make the launch of Bhavya remembered as "the day when India became ready for a new paradigm of business," laying the groundwork for Viksit Bharat 2047.
