Question

Why has the cotton textile industry rapidly expanded in Mumbai?

Answer 1

• In 1854,the first successful mechanized textile mill was established in Mumbai.
• Skilled labour, availability of raw material, a port for importing machinery, moist and warm climate helped in the rapid expansion of the cotton textile industry in the region.
• Due to favourable humid climate cotton industry started flourishing in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Currently, cotton textile industry has spread to other parts of the country as the humidity can be created artificially and availability of pure raw cotton.
• Some of the important centres of the cotton textile industry are located in Panipat, Puducherry, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kanpur, Coimbatore.
• In Ahmedabad, the first mill was established in 1859. After Mumbai it went on to become the second largest textile city of India. It was often referred to as ‘Manchester of India.’
• Moreover there was availability of raw materials as cotton growing areas were located close to Ahmedabad. Land was easily available, the terrain was flat and the climate was also ideal for weaving and spinning.
• As Maharashtra and Gujarat was densely populated, it easily provided semi-skilled labour and skilled labour.
• Market was easily accessible due to well developed railway and road networks.
• Even export of cotton textiles and import of machinery was easy due to Mumbai port.