Glorious townships built by leading industrialists of India

India is a country with a rich and diverse history of industrial development. Many of the leading industrialists of India have not only contributed to the economic growth of the nation, but also to the social and environmental well-being of the communities where they operate. One of the ways they have done so is by creating townships that provide housing, education, health care, recreation, and other amenities for their employees and their families. These townships are not only examples of corporate social responsibility, but also of urban planning, design, and innovation. Here are five such townships built by leading industrialists of India.

Jamshedpur is the first planned industrial city of India, founded by Jamsetji N. Tata, the pioneer of the Tata Group, in 19071. It is home to Tata Steel, the first and largest steel plant in India, as well as other Tata companies such as Tata Motors, Tata Power, and Tata Consultancy Services. Jamshedpur is also known for its high quality of life, with wide streets, shady trees, parks, gardens, temples, mosques, churches, schools, colleges, hospitals, and a zoo. Jamshedpur has a population of 1.3 million and a literacy rate of 75%. It is one of the few cities in India where one can drink water directly from the tap.

Image: TATA Website

Mahindra World City (MWC) is an integrated township spread over 1,550 acres near Chennai, developed by Mahindra Lifespace Developers, the real estate arm of the Mahindra Group, in 20022. It houses three sector-specific special economic zones (SEZs) for information technology, auto ancillary, and apparel and fashion accessories, as well as a domestic tariff area for India-focused companies. It has 64 companies, including Infosys, Wipro, BASF, Renault-Nissan, BMW, TVS Group, and Capgemini, with a total of 38,000 employees and a cumulative export of Rs 7,062 crore in 2014-15. MWC also has 285 acres of residential, social, and retail infrastructure, with the capacity to house 8,000 families. MWC is an example of sustainable development, with green buildings, rainwater harvesting and solar power among other facilities.

Image: Mahindra Lifespace Developers

Shantigram is a 600+ acre integrated township near Ahmedabad, developed by Adani Realty, the real estate arm of the Adani Group, in 2010. It has three zones: residential, commercial, and recreational, with a variety of projects catering to different segments of customers. It has 22,000 residential units, including apartments, villas, and senior-friendly homes, with a population of 1.1 lakh. It also has a 9-hole golf course, a cricket ground, a football ground, a musical fountain, a shopping plaza, a school, a hospital, and a temple. Shantigram is an example of luxury and lifestyle, with world-class amenities and facilities

In Odisha, Rourkela is a city known for its steel industry and educational institutions. It is the location of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), the first public sector steel plant in India, set up by the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) in 1959. RSP produces 4.5 million tonnes of hot metal and 3.8 million tonnes of crude steel per year. Rourkela also has a township for the employees of RSP know as the Steel Township, covering 6,000 acres and having a population of 2.5 lakh. The township has educational institutions, clubs, stadiums, a golf course and many other facilities for recreation. Rourkela is also the home of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, one of the premier engineering institutes of India.

Image: Reuters

Jamnagar is a city in Gujarat, known for its oil refineries and brass industries. It is also the site of Reliance Greens, a township developed by Reliance Industries, one of the largest private sector companies in India. Reliance Greens covers 750 acres and has 6,500 families that work for Reliance Industries. The township has schools, hospitals, parks, temples, and other facilities. Reliance Greens is an example of corporate social responsibility and urban development.

Image: Reliance Greens/Facebook

Modinagar is a town in Uttar Pradesh, founded by Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi, the founder of the Modi Group, in 1933. It is the headquarters of Modi Industries, which has interests in paper, sugar, chemicals, rubber, and textiles. Modinagar is also a township for the workers of Modi Industries, with a population of 1.8 lakh and a literacy rate of 80%. The township has schools, colleges, hospitals, a railway station. Modinagar is also known for its social and cultural activities, such as sports, music, drama, and festivals.

Image: PTI