The Maharashtra government has decided to set up a Rs 300 crore garment park in Solapur to promote the city as a 'major garment hub'. Nearly 27 acres of land belonging to the erstwhile Narsing Girji Mill in Solapur has been identified, says state textile minister Subhash Deshmukh.

The minister was inaugurating the three-day international exhibition on uniform and textiles in Solapur. The exhibition is being hosted by Shree Solapur Readymade Garment Manufacturing Association in co-ordination with the Maharashtra Textile Ministry and Mafatlal Fabrics. The bhoomi pujan (ground breaking ceremony) of the park would be held on January 26. The government will provide all required infrastructure to successfully complete and launch this Garment Park.

Amit Kumar Jain of Shri Solapur Readymade Kapad Utpadak Sangh said the total cost for the garment park would be around Rs 300 crores. The park will generate enough employment potential which will provide employment to over 60,000 bidi workers, besides other unemployed persons.

The uniforms industry including school, corporate wear and government forces is worth over Rs 18,000 crore of which nearly Rs 10,000 crore is in the organised sector. Of the rest, Solapur contributes nearly Rs 1,100 crore with uniforms churned out from around 1,000 plus manufacturing units in the city employing over 60,000 skilled workers.