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Corporate Update

Sant Kabir Textile Park Will Fail Without Micro Units At The Core

• By  Textile Excellence
• January 15, 2026

The proposed Sant Kabir Textile Park in Varanasi has the potential to become a strategic intervention for reviving the Banarasi textile ecosystem, provided execution aligns with the needs of micro enterprises, handloom clusters, and value-added manufacturing.

At a high-level review chaired by Handloom Commissioner and Director K. Vijender Pandian, the government confirmed clear timelines: the Detailed Project Report will be completed within 90 days, and the park is targeted to become operational within one year. This commitment signals intent to fast-track implementation.

Strategic priorities identified

Inclusion of micro and small units

Uttar Pradesh’s textile base is overwhelmingly micro-led. Policy emphasis must ensure affordable plots, flexible shed design, and phased investment models so micro units - especially weavers - can participate meaningfully, rather than the park being dominated by larger players.

Protection and upgrading of the Banarasi value chain

Stakeholders stressed strict control over fake yarn and polyester use in silk products, alongside promotion of natural fibres. Live production demonstrations, integrated zari and embroidery facilities, and branding support are critical to safeguarding the Banarasi GI while improving market competitiveness.

Value addition and allied industries

The park is envisioned not merely as a manufacturing zone but as a complete textile ecosystem, including dyeing, printing, embroidery, silk storage, yarn and raw material banks, and allied inputs such as buttons and zippers. This reduces dependence on external clusters and lowers costs.

Technology, skills, and R&D

Collaboration with NIFT and the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, a Weavers’ Service Centre, and support for modern machinery were identified as essential for productivity, design innovation, and compliance with export standards.

Policy takeaway

Sant Kabir Textile Park can anchor jobs, heritage preservation, and export-led growth in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Success will depend less on land and infrastructure, and more on governance, inclusivity, and enforcement of quality standards. Clear rules, timely land allocation, and coordinated institutional support will determine whether the park becomes transformative or just another industrial estate.

Sant Kabir Textile Park can anchor jobs, heritage preservation, and export-led growth in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Success will depend less on land and infrastructure, and more on governance, inclusivity, and enforcement of quality standards.