Mumbai-Pune Industrial Region In 1774, the British acquired the island of Mumbai" as a site to develop a port. In 1853, the 34-km Mumbai-Thane rail ushered in industrialisation. Opening of routes through Bhorghat to Pune and through Thalghat to Nasik extended the region's influence to the hinterland. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 established closer links with Europe. Mumbai region had a favourable climate for cotton textiles because of the following reasons:
(i) easy availability of raw cotton from the black soil belt of Narmada and Tapti;
(ii) coastal humid climate which was ideal for weaving and spinning;
(iii) easy availability of hydel power fromm the Western Ghats;
(iv) location of the port on the west~oast which ensured ready access to western markets; and~
(v) easy import of capital goods through t. e port.
Thus, this region emerged as the 'cottonopoJis' o. India. With cotton textiles, a chemical industry also deveh:. ed soon. Today, the belt has extended to Kurla, Jogeshwa. j, Ghatkopar, Villeparle, Andheri, Kalyan, Pimpri, Pune, Bhandup and Thane. The product range of the industry in the Mumbai-Pune belt includes textiles, chemicals, engineering, electricals, drugs, transport equipment, plastic and synthetic goods, leather goods and ship-building. The major problems faced by this belt after independence indude the following.
(i) Eighty per cent of the irrigated, long staple cotton growing areas went to Pakistan.
(ii) Congestion is a serious problem and reclamation of more land from the sea is not going to be economical.
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