Editor’s Note
A delegation of bullion and jewellery traders has urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to establish an international-level Gems and Jewellery Park in Pandri, submitting a memorandum during a meeting late Saturday.
A delegation of sarafa (bullion and jewellery) traders met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai late Saturday evening to demand the establishment of an international-level Gems and Jewellery Park in Pandri. The delegation was led by Harkh Malu, former president of the Raipur Sarafa Association. The traders submitted a memorandum to CM Sai.
In the letter to the Chief Minister, traders demanded the park be built on the land of the old Pandri bus stand, which is already government land, eliminating the need for new land acquisition and saving time and money. Located at the junction of NH-30, GE Road, and Ring Road-1, the site offers easy access: 15 minutes to the airport, 10 minutes to the railway station, and 25 minutes to Nava Raipur. Customers from across Chhattisgarh could reach within 2 hours, making Pandri a potential hub for the sarafa trade.
The memorandum highlighted security benefits: an open complex with roads on all sides and a nearby police control room would allow direct connection to CCTNS (crime tracking network), potentially reducing insurance premiums. It would also solve traffic problems on Sadar-Malviya Road. A multi-level basement parking on the 5+ acre site could accommodate 10,000 customers during wedding seasons without traffic congestion.
Like Jaipur’s Jewellery Park and Surat’s Diamond Bourse, this park would become Raipur’s identity, attracting investors, tourists, and major brands. It would boost Nava Raipur’s image. An organized market would ensure 100% billing. Having hallmarking and refinery facilities in one place would stop tax leakage. It is estimated that an additional Rs. 200-300 crore in GST could be collected annually.
A training center, CAD-CAM lab, and design institute under one roof could teach modern jewellery design to local goldsmiths’ children, boosting the ‘Make in Chhattisgarh’ initiative. A museum, exhibition hall, and fashion show space within the park would host sarafa festivals, benefiting hotels, transport, and the food industry. Built on a PPP model, the government would earn regular income from rent/lease.
On this occasion, a letter from the All India Jewellers and Goldsmiths Federation (AIJGF) was also submitted to CM Sai. The letter stated that an SOP prepared by AIJGF’s legal team has been tested and approved by the DGP of Bihar Police. Implementation in Bihar has brought clarity to both jewellers and police administration. The delegation requested that this SOP be implemented in Chhattisgarh as well, to relieve honest jewellers from unnecessary legal troubles.
