A new report identified 30 high-potential industrial and warehousing hotspots across India driven by infrastructure expansion, manufacturing growth and a policy push. Colliers India found that eight out of 30 cities are established markets and identified 22 additional emerging and nascent hubs. The selection used an in-house analytical framework built around five key parameters and mapped government-recognised industrial hubs. The study said the distribution aims to disperse economic activity beyond traditional centres.

The framework prioritised enhanced connectivity along industrial and freight corridors, upcoming smart industrial cities, proposed Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), sea and airport linkages and large integrated textile hubs. These enablers were assessed for their potential to unlock land, reduce logistics lead times and attract manufacturing investment. The report noted that multimodal projects and corridor linkages can create concentrated demand for modern warehouse stock.

Manufacturing currently contributes 17 per cent of gross domestic product and is projected to rise to about 25 per cent by 2035, which is expected to drive long-term warehousing demand. Colliers India said institutional investors are showing strong interest in modern, efficient warehouses as an asset class. The managing director for industrial and logistics services at Colliers India indicated that the next wave of growth will be strengthened by expanding corridors, MMLPs, smart industrial cities and major sea–airport projects. The recent budget focus on dispersing growth and an allocation of Rs 50,000 mn per City Economic Regions (CER) were identified as supportive measures.

The hotspots span northern, southern, western, eastern and central regions, reflecting an equitable geographic spread. The eight prime hubs are expected to consolidate their lead and absorb new capacity rapidly, with demand across the top eight cities able to cross 50 mn square feet by 2030. The 12 emerging hubs are likely to gain momentum as infrastructure comes online, while the 10 nascent hubs will depend on infrastructure adequacy, policy support and investor readiness before momentum builds.