Gurgaon: The state govt is planning to set up shared industrial secretariats in four cities to improve coordination between govt departments and address the problems faced by manufacturers. But with the state already operating a single-window clearance mechanism for investors, the key question is whether the proposed facilities — in Gurgaon, Manesar, Faridabad and Rewari — will have the authority to resolve industrial bottlenecks or function primarily as additional facilitation centres.Govt has also outlined an advance decision portal for investor queries, common facility centres for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and improvements to industrial infrastructure. A Rs 500-crore enabling fund has been announced for upgrading facilities in existing industrial areas. However, govt has yet to publicly detail the secretariats’ departmental composition, delegated powers or timelines for resolving applications and complaints. The proposal, discussed at a review meeting chaired by chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, is part of a broader plan to strengthen existing industrial areas.Haryana already has Haryana Enterprise Promotion Centre (HEPC), which facilitates approvals involving multiple departments. Its existing framework is intended to make it easier for investors to navigate regulatory requirements. The proposed secretariats will therefore need to demonstrate what they add to the current arrangement, particularly for businesses that have obtained their initial approvals but continue to face operational problems.For a manufacturing unit, setting up a factory can involve clearances and services from several agencies, depending on the nature of its operations. These may include building-plan approvals, factory licences, fire-safety permissions, pollution-control consents and electricity and water connections. Once a unit begins production, it may also need to coordinate with separate agencies over power supply, drainage, roads and other industrial infrastructure.Although applications may be submitted through online systems, resolving objections, clarifying regulatory requirements or following up on delayed services can still require businesses to engage with individual departments. “The proposed secretariats could help bridge this gap if the relevant officials are available at a common location and have the authority to coordinate decisions and resolve pending cases,” said an official of the industry department.The distinction is important for the Gurgaon-Manesar area, one of Haryana’s major manufacturing belts, where delays in utility connections, infrastructure maintenance or statutory clearances can affect production schedules and investment decisions. For MSMEs, repeated follow-ups can also divert management time and resources from operations.The proposed advance decision portal could help investors obtain clarity on regulatory requirements before committing capital. But its value will depend on whether it provides authoritative written responses within defined timelines or merely directs applicants to the relevant departments.Similarly, bringing officials together under one roof would not automatically reduce delays if they continue to operate under separate departmental procedures without delegated powers or a common escalation mechanism. “Businesses would need a clear process to flag unresolved cases, track their status and obtain decisions from the competent authority,” said the official.The initiative is significant for the industrial belt stretching from the city and Manesar to Faridabad and Rewari, where manufacturers depend on multiple departments for permissions, utilities and infrastructure. “The govt aims to make industrial areas more self-sufficient, with better connectivity, power and water supply, worker accommodation and common services,” said the officer.Govt has also proposed common facility centres for MSMEs and improvements to industrial infrastructure. These measures address a different but related challenge: the cost and difficulty of accessing shared services and maintaining reliable facilities in established industrial areas. An advance decision portal could allow investors to obtain clarity on regulatory requirements before committing money to a project. Common facility centres could give smaller manufacturers access to shared infrastructure and services that may be too expensive for individual units to establish.
