Punjab infrastructure is impressive and healthy, with an average growth rate of 10%, due to the advantageous natural resources the state is blessed with.
Surrounded by Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Pakistan, Punjab has always been known as the “Granary of India” and has the
best food production rate in India.
Facts and figures
In 2006, the
GDP of Punjab at current prices (2004-05) was US$19.14 billion. The
per capita income of Punjab is almost Rs. 31,000 and the state has a population of roughly 244 lakh (Census, 2001).
Economic infrastructure of Punjab
In terms of roads, Punjab is extensively connected by mettled roads. Almost 55,000 km of roads run across the length and breadth of Punjab connecting 99% of its villages. Punjab also has access to National Highways, Provincial Roads, State Highways, District Roads, and Link Roads.
Punjab airports at Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Amritsar equip the state with an impressive aviation sector.
Punjab is also well connected by the Indian Railways network, with train routes passing through Amritsar, Ambala, Ludhiana, Bhatinda etc.
Punjab agriculture
Agriculture is the mainstay of the
Punjab infrastructure. It is an incredible fact that though Punjab accounts for only 1.5% of India's geographical area, it produces more than 2/3rd of
India's total food grain output. Wheat, rice, cotton, grapes, eggs, milk, honey and vegetables are the
main agricultural produces of Punjab. In 1997-98, Punjab's foodgrain production was 211 lac tonnes.
The Punjab government has undertaken initiatives such as integrated pest management, diversification of cropping pattern, bee-keeping, and bio-fertilizers to boost
Punjab's agricultural output further.
Punjab industries
Though agriculture is the predominant aspect of Punjab infrastructure, Punjab has several flourishing industries such as:
- Textiles and garments
- Information Technology
- Tourism
Among these, the
tourism industry in Punjab has been doing particularly well in the past few years, thanks to the religious monuments in the state such as the Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib, Durgiana Mandir, Ram Tirath, and Rauza Sharif. Apart from these there a lot of
historical forts and palaces in Punjab that attracts thousands of tourists from across the world every year.
Punjab's business districts are mostly located in areas such as Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Patiala, Pathankot, and Kartarpur. Some of the
companies in Punjab that have opened major business units are:
SmithKline Beecham
Pepsi
Nestle
Hitachi
Motorola
Kenwood
Ranbaxy
Oswal Woolen Mills
Hero Cycles
Gujarat Ambuja
Investment opportunities in Punjab
Although Punjab infrastructure is already robust and productive, the government has provided a number of incentives across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors for investments in:
- Agriculture
- Meat Processing
- Sports goods
- Biotechnology
- Automobiles
- Leather Industry
- Food Processing
- Textiles
