1. The Mumbai-Pune Industrial Region

This is the most important industrial region of the country (Fig. 11.17 and Fig. 11.18). The region developed after the arrival of British in India who developed the Mumbai Seaport. After the opening of Suez Canal in 1869 the sea-route between India and Europe was reduced substantially. The development of this industrial region is closely connected with the history of development of cotton textile industry in India. The humid climate, natural port facilities, availability of hydro-power, skilled labour, and a vast hinterland producing cotton became the main factors in the development of this industrial region.

There are more than 8000 registered factories only in the Greater Mumbai, out of which 350 belong to cotton textile. The other industries of the region are engineering goods, chemical industries, food-processing industries, leather goods, pharmaceutical, and film industries. In Mumbai, the bulk of the production is light textured fine and super fine cotton cloths. Over 15 lakh people are engaged in the industrial sector of this region.

Pune is the second most important industrial centre of the region. It has more than 1200 registered factories. Its industries are producing metallurgical, chemical, engineering, and automobile goods. Pune has two factories producing scooters and mopeds.

In addition to Mumbai and Pune, the industrial centres of this region are: Ambarnath, Andheri, Bhandup, Ghatkopar, 1 ladapsar, Jogeshwari, Kalyan, Kirkee, Kolhapur, Kurla, Nashik, Sholapur, Thane, Trombay, IJlhasnagar, and Vikroli.

This industrial region has almost reached the saturation level. Some of the important problems of this industrial region facing are:

(i) Inadequate supply of power

(ii) Obsolete and outdated machinery

Fig. 11.17 Industrial Regions

(iii) High cost of land and high rent of commercial space

(iv) Labour unrest

(v) Increasing regionalism

(vi) High rate of crime

(vii) Increasing environmental pollution