Business and Economy of Dehradun

Dehradun is the interim capital of state of Uttarakhand and a Class 1 city according to the 2011 Census of India. In the past 20 years, Dehradun has emerged as the leading business and service center and is the biggest urban agglomeration within the entire hilly region of Garhwal Himalayas. Majority of the population in Dehradun is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, but due to the recent economic boom in the city, Dehradun has seen a shift in the focus from tertiary sectors to primary and secondary sectors. The urban area in Dehradun is also seeing a change from services to industry, trade and commerce while at the same time increasing the secondary and tertiary sectors for economic growth.

 

Industrial Profile of Dehradun

Dehradun is home to many prominent organizations and educational institutions such as Survey of India, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Forest Research Institute, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Wildlife Institute of India, Indian Military Academy, The Doon School and so on. This has resulted in an active economical, commercial and technological boom that has completely changed the city’s old image of being a quiet and residential town. Because of numerous educational institutions and prestigious organizations, Dehradun has a good per capita income of $2400.

Proximity to New Delhi makes the city an extension for those organizations that are forced to look for alternative options. Moreover, Dehradun is also known as the ‘Counter Magnet’ of NCR of Delhi as Dehradun acts as a substitute center of growth to ease the influx of migration and population growth in Delhi.

Currently, the district has 16 industrial areas with 13 Large Scale Enterprises and 52 Medium Scale Enterprises. Major exportable items in Dehradun include Herbs, Spices, Herbal Cosmetics, Freeze Dried Foods, Swords, Khukris, Electronic Calculators, Basmati Rice and Fruits like Mangoes and Lychees. 

Since 2001, the city has also experienced rapid increase in the population growth rate, which has almost become double in the past ten years. With a population of almost 5 lakh and high growth rate in the urban area, the city currently requires considerable amount of investment to develop, improve and provide modern infrastructure to meet the increasing pace of urbanization and fast growth rate of population. “The New Industrial Policy 2003” by the government lays down the vision for industrial development of the city, which includes providing concessions to attract new industries, to provide world-class infrastructure and assured electricity for industries, to promote small scale and cottage industries and to develop Uttarakhand as a foremost research and educational center of India. Various other tax exemptions have been provided to increase economic growth in the city. This policy has helped in accelerating industrialization and urbanization in Dehradun.

Agriculture in Dehradun

Majority of the population in Dehradun is dependant on agriculture as their primary occupation. The district enjoys many agricultural advantages like fertile alluvial soil, sufficient drainage, moderate climate and abundant rainfall. Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Lychees, Maize, Agro forestry and Animal Production are some of the major crops and enterprises engaged in agriculture.

 

 To promote agricultural activities in the Uttarakhand, the State Agricultural Policy was established in 2011. The state government under this policy focuses on Special Agricultural Zones (SAZs). Under this, the government intends to have more agro-based elements like tea gardens, fisheries, dairy farming and other horticultural and agricultural activities. Moreover, the government also offers various incentives like grants, availability of 24 hour electricity, establishment of special collection and processing centers for farmers and free soil tests.

Infrastructure in Dehradun

The infrastructure in Dehradun has greatly improved in the last 20 years due to the rapid growth in the economy. With the establishment of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) all over Dehradun, the city has become the industrial hub of Uttarakhand. Apart from that, many regional offices of various companies like Genpact, Indiamart, Spice Digital, Serco, Aptara etc have opened up in the city. Several manufacturing units have also opened up in the Selaqui Industrial Area of Dehradun.

Paltan Bazaar and Rajpur Road are the center of economic growth in Dehradun. Moreover, with the introduction of various shopping malls in the city, many new luxury brands have opened their retail outlets over here. Multiplexes like Glitz Cinemas, PVR Cinemas, Big Cinemas etc have redefined the entertainment industry of Dehradun.

The city also boasts of an efficient transport system with great connectivity to all the major cities in the country. To make commuting between Delhi and Dehradun more comfortable, a Delhi-Dehradun four lane highway is being proposed, which will surely further enhance the economic development of the city.