India’s financial capital Mumbai is considered as one of the oldest cosmopolitan cities of the country and is known for its vastness and modern lifestyle. The diversity of Mumbai’s culture gets directly reflected on all kinds of markets including the furniture and its associated industries located in different parts of this modern city.
Recently, Furniture Design & Technology (FDT) team visited Vasai, one of Maharashtra’s biggest industrial hubs located in the western suburbs of Mumbai in Palghar district and tried to know how Vasai is emerging as one of the major hubs for modern and modular furniture market. There are about one and a half dozen of small and big markets, consisting of hundreds of furniture showrooms and factories. The eastern part of Vasai is highly industrialized with small and medium scale manufacturing units which are producing a wide range of products and catering to the needs of many industries and entrepreneurs in the entire region. Vasai has close proximity and connectivity to Mumbai. This has led to its rapid infrastructural, industrial and economical development.
More than 1,000 industrial units are spread across Navghar, Gokhivare, Fatherwadi, Gumal Nagar, Waliv, Chis pada, Hotai pada, Gilani, Khan Compound, Hira industry, Richard compound, Shiva pada, Boida pada, Waliv fata, Sativali and Gauraipada in the eastern side of the Vasai and well connected to Mumbai- Ahmedabad Highway and Papdy Industrial area in Vasai (west). The Papdy Industrial area located in western part of Vasai is settled and organized in a more methodical manner than industries located in the eastern part. Although the industrial area in Vasai (W) is very small as compared to the eastern part, but the roads, public & business utilities and other related infrastructure are well equipped in the Papdy Industrial area. Approximately 80 to 100 small and medium industrial units are running in this only industrial area of Papdy in Vasai West.
Both the eastern and western areas make Vasai as one of the main and nearest industrial hubs for Mumbai. For the last few years, this industrial area is booming as one of the biggest manufacturing hubs for regular and modular furniture, allied components including hardware and furniture accessories. Ebco, Maximus Modular, Nirvana, Modulinea Modular, Smart edge, Ommag, Setuz, Ark Cucine, KBA, Krystal Modular, Carneiro Home Studio, Inizia Modular etc. are some of modular and furniture fitting companies located in both parts of Vasai. Apart from these, there are dozens of micro and small enterprises engaged in furniture manufacturing and related activities.
As per estimation, there are approximately 1200 business units in both eastern and western part of Vasai and out of them, 15 to 20 percent units are closely associated to furniture, paneling and allied industry and generating huge employment and catering to the need of the furniture industry. The number of such companies is increasing rapidly. Large numbers of units are involved in making of modular furniture, modular kitchen and related components. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of modular furniture consumed in all markets of Mumbai is made in Vasai based units. Apart from different locations and markets of Mumbai, the furniture makers of Vasai supply their products to different parts of the country majorly in western, southern and eastern India.
Robust rail & road networks, shipping connectivity, warehouses, raw material availability, reach, market proximity, easy sourcing of materials are the major factors that make Vasai a favorable industrial hub. But for the last few years, some of the factories and enterprises are being shifted from Vasai, especially from the eastern parts. The main cause behind shifting of business units is lack of proper infrastructure and heavy licensing fee.
Mr. Punamiya, Director Maximus Modular systems shares, “We are into modular kitchen, wardrobes and living room segment. Vasai is known as a hub for modular kitchens and wardrobes. As a hub, this area is still emerging rapidly for modular furniture and kitches. There are more than 100 units for manufacturing modular kitchens and furniture including micro and small enterprises in Vasai. Being as hub, all raw materials required for modular kitchens, wardrobes and furniture are easily available in Vasai. All suppliers have their own warehouses in Vasai and Bhiwandi areas which make it easier to get the required materials even in a short span of time.”
Mr. Sanjay Mane who hails from UP and is working as a senior manager in a modular furniture factory located in Vasai East said that many new companies including from furniture background have come up in this area in recent years. Due to the heavy demand of modular furniture and kitchen in Mumbai and nearby areas, people prefer to set up their company in Vasai. Easy availability of raw materials and market reach etc. are the major factors behind the same. Government has increased the license fee for new factories in Vasai. Due to the heavy licensing fee, many factories are being shifted from Vasai to Boisar and Palghar area, he added. Young entrepreneur Mr. Mukesh Verma said that maximum labors and workers in Vasai’s business units and factories are from north India. The numbers of such northern Indian workers may be more than hundreds and some of them are working here since the last few decades. They are earning a handsome amount and working comfortably and few of them have even purchased their own houses. This is a promising sign of growth for the region.
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FDT is a B2B monthly bilingual magazine from India that shares the pulse of the furniture business in India and connects the manufacturers, OEMS, product designers, architects, showrooms, designers and dealers.
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