Bharuch: The country’s first bulk drug park is rapidly taking shape in Bharuch district, with major infrastructure works now underway. Responding to a query raised by MP Govind Dholakia in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Anupriya Patel recently stated that the development of essential facilities has begun, including the laying of a 40-km pipeline to supply water from the Narmada canal.

The park is being developed over approximately 1,000 acres near Jambusar in Bharuch district and is expected to play a key role in positioning Gujarat as a global hub in the pharmaceutical sector. The project was accorded priority by both the Central and State governments in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in October 2022.

According to details shared in the Rajya Sabha, the project received environmental clearance in February 2024. Most civil tenders for common infrastructure, including roads, drainage, water supply, and waste management, have been awarded, with work nearing completion. Construction of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and the Solvent Recovery Facility has commenced, while a 4-km connectivity road has already been completed.

The tender process for parking facilities was completed in November 2025, and proposals related to steam generation are currently under evaluation.

The primary objective of the project is to reduce the cost of drug production and decrease India’s dependence on imports of bulk drugs. Notably, bulk drugs accounted for around 60% of India’s pharmaceutical imports during 2021–22.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2027. Once operational, it is likely to generate significant direct and indirect employment and further strengthen Gujarat’s position in the global pharmaceutical industry. DeshGujarat