CII Calls for Industrial Land Reforms to Attract Investment

India’s push for industrial land reforms gathered pace today as Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) proposed a sweeping set of changes to fix long-standing issues in land access that continue to slow manufacturing growth.

The industry body flagged that delays, unclear titles, and fragmented state-level rules are holding back investments and increasing project risks.

CII called for the creation of a national digital platform that would function as a land bank, offering real-time data on available industrial land, ownership details, and zoning regulations. This move is aimed at cutting down the time companies spend searching for suitable land and reducing uncertainty in decision-making.

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A key part of the proposal is a single-window clearance system that would bring all approvals under one digital roof. This is expected to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve transparency, making it easier for businesses to track applications and timelines.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, stated that "India's manufacturing ambitions under Make in India, National Industrial Corridors, renewable energy expansion, and modern logistics cannot be realised unless industrial land becomes predictable, transparent, and investment ready. The CII Land Mission provides a practical, implementation-oriented framework that respects social safeguards while enhancing time efficiency, predictability and coordination across the land value chain."

The industry group also stressed the need for uniform stamp duty structures across states to prevent cost-driven location choices. Alongside this, it recommended digitizing land records and introducing title insurance to minimize legal disputes and improve investor confidence.

T. V. Narendran, Chairman, CII Land Mission and Past President CII, stated that "The challenge in industrial land is not only acquisition, but readiness and utilisation. Even after allotment, projects get stuck due to possession issues, infrastructure gaps, unclear titles, and prolonged downstream approvals. The Land Mission proposals focus on end-to-end reform, right from clean land banks and faster acquisition to utilization norms, dispute resolution, and institutional accountability."

To ensure coordination between states, CII suggested forming a national council modeled on the GST framework. This body would help align policies, resolve disputes, and monitor progress on industrial land reforms across the country.

The proposals come at a time when India is looking to strengthen its manufacturing base and attract global investments. According to CII, simplifying land access can significantly reduce project delays, lower costs, and accelerate industrial development, making the country more competitive as a manufacturing destination.