"Beyond the Industrial Enclave: Analysing the Spatial and Socio-Economic Impact of Pithampur Automobile Cluster, India "

Abstract

Industries are considered engines of growth for an economy. Developing countries like India have attempted to boost economic growth by initiating industrialization in areas unsuitable for industrial growth. Most studies on industries/industrial clusters focus on their financial performance, backward and forward linkages, and managing the supply and demand chains, rather than the socioeconomic and spatial influence on their locations and surrounding regions. Such studies are critical in determining which industry contributes to regional growth and what their spatial influences are. This paper contributes to this domain of research. In this study, the Pithampur Automobile Cluster (PAC) is examined. It was developed by the Government in 1984 with the intent to develop a backward area in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. The study aims to discern PAC’s influence on its surroundings, encompassing Pithampur town, adjacent villages, and towns within a 12–15-kilometer radius. Data from multiple census years (1981, 1991, 2001, 2011) and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Analysis through GIS for the years 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021 are employed. Contrary to expectations, the study reveals that the impact of industrial development is primarily confined to the boundaries of Pithampur, with surrounding villages showing relative detachment. The emergence of growth corridors is attributed to the appeal of neighbouring towns that offer better amenities and a more economically viable living environment.