Cement manufacturers eye expansion in eastern India

31 Jul 2021 CW Team

The cement industry is now eyeing capacity expansion in eastern India with most players investing in this region.

Shree Cement has announced a Rs 600 crore investment in West Bengal to establish a cement grinding mill. UltraTech is adding nearly 7 mt to its existing base of nearly 120 mt.

After acquiring Jajpur Cements, Sagar Cements is expected to expand its capacity in the region.

Nuvuco Vistas, owned by Nirma, made the most ambitious venture when it bought out two existing businesses Lafarge and Emami for Rs 14,900 crore, giving them a capacity of 19.5 mt.

For the fiscal year 2012, the total installed capacity in the East was 50 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), while the total national capacity was 350 mt.

The lack of a housing boom, combined with an insufficient focus on infrastructure, did not contribute to its growth.

From a total base of 537 mt, capacity has increased to 111 mt in FY21.

By some margin, it is the second-largest region by pecking order. West and Central are both at 71 mt, whereas North is at 104 mt. The South is the largest at 181 mt.

Increased demand will provide companies with more pricing power or the ability to pass on price increases to consumers.

Rashesh Shah of ICICI Securities predicted earlier this year that cement capacity in the east would reach 131 mt in FY23, based on a national base of 587 mt.

It states that despite capacity additions, utilisation levels in the east (central and north) are expected to remain above 80% until FY23.

Image Source

Also read: Cement industry targets 80 mt capacity addition in next 3 years

Also read: Ambuja Cements to add 20 mtpa capacity at Rs 10k cr

Also read: Ramco Cements plans Rs 636 cr capacity expansion in Tamil Nadu

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..