Why Muzaffarpur Couldn’t Become Bihar’s “Manchester”: Understanding the Roadblocks Ahead of Nitish Kumar’s Visit

The dream of turning Muzaffarpur into Bihar’s “Manchester” for textiles dates back to 1978–80, when socialist leader and former Defence Minister George Fernandes laid the foundation to connect the district with the cotton textile industry. At the time, it was believed that Muzaffarpur could soon gain recognition like Manchester for its cotton textiles.

The Early Vision and Its Challenges
George Fernandes established the Bela Industrial Area during his tenure as MP, aiming to create a hub for cotton textiles. Over the next eight years, around 35 industrial units operated successfully. However, post-1990, the industrial area suffered from neglect, lack of resources, and rising crime, leading to its gradual decline. A partial revival began around 2010, and by 2020, the area started showing signs of recovery.

Efforts to Revive Textile and Leather Clusters
The state and central governments, along with industrial stakeholders, have attempted to develop textile and leather clusters in Bela. The plan included establishing 10 new sheds to provide employment to around 5,000 people. Currently, the leather cluster operates with 24 sheds employing about 1,000 workers. Similarly, the textile cluster has 15 sheds, with 10 more planned, each providing jobs for 500 individuals.

In addition to textile and leather units, Bela Industrial Area hosts a bag cluster, food processing plants, and poultry feed industries. Furthermore, the state government is developing a mega food park over 78 acres in Motipur, formerly part of the sugar mill land.

Why the “Manchester Dream” Remains Unfulfilled
Despite these efforts, Muzaffarpur has not yet emerged as a major textile hub. The primary challenges have been inadequate basic infrastructure such as clean drinking water, sanitation, and security within industrial areas, which has deterred large-scale investment. Consequently, most textile production remains limited to small-scale manufacturers, such as school and police uniforms, rather than major brands.

Other obstacles include slow industrial investment, delays in systematic implementation, and poor connectivity. Additionally, heavy traffic in the city drives many traders to shift operations to Delhi or Gorakhpur, where ready-made garment industries are better developed.

Hope from the “Samriddhi Yatra”
Ahead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s scheduled visit to Muzaffarpur today under the “Samriddhi Yatra,” locals are hopeful for concrete steps to address these industrial challenges. Industrial development is also a key goal under the state’s “Saat Nishchay Part 3” program, raising expectations that Muzaffarpur may finally see the revival of its textile potential.