Business and Economy of Raigarh

Raigarh is fast transforming itself into a most industrialized zones in India. Thanks to the mineral reserves in the region that has contributed a lot in its economy. It is famous across the entire country for its mineral reserves and agricultural outputs. Compared to other regions of Chhattisgarh, Raigarh enjoys advantageous position in terms of geographical locations. Today it is one of the major contributor in the economy of Chhattisgarh.

Industrial Sector in Raigarh

The industrial sectors are on a rise in the district of Raigarh. They hold the record as the worlds second largest and India's largest sponge iron plants with 62 industries surrounding this city. This region has grown tremendously and transformed into an industrial hub for the steel market. The two major sponge iron and steel plant that are present here are the Jindal Steel and Power Limited and Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd. The growth of the industries sectors has lead to the growth of the city. What was once an old city with congested market places, narrow and curving roads is now shaping itself with shopping complexes, broad four-lane roads, star hotels and much more. With more than 50 sponge iron plants already set up in the district there are plans for many more industries looking for the opportunity to set up here. This new change in Raigarh is all due to the industrial sectors that have been set up here.

Jindal Steel and Power Limited

First commissioned in 1991, JSPL today not only leads the Indian market but is also the world’s largest coal-based sponge iron plant. JSPL presently covers sectors like Mining, Power Generation and Infrastructure and is India’s major steel producers. The steel plant with installed capacity of 3 MTPA of steel at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh is providing employment to the youth of the region. JSPL also have their mills present in Jharkhand and Odisha, this company aims to not only grow as a business but also contribute substantially to the country’s growth and long term prosperity.
JSPL uses state of the art steel making plant, equipped with modern machinery at all their sectors including Raigarh. The company uses world class facilities to get immense results. JSPL has created a name for itself in the country and is recognized as a leader in manufacturing coal-based sponge iron in India. It is the only sponge iron manufacturer in the country with captive raw material resources and power generation.

Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited

The Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited has also set up its unit in Raigarh and is engaged in production and marketing of Sponge Iron, Steel and Ferro Alloys. Besides the generation of power for consumption they are also participants engaged in mining of minerals like Coal & Iron Ore. With the rapid growth of industries and infrastructure, MIEL tries their best to stay in the race and cater to this growth by coming up with a 1.5 Million Tons Per Annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant to produce HR coils, plates, and rebars at its facility at Raigarh. Their main concern currently is power for captive consumption by setting up a 60 MW power plant at Raipur & a 90 MW power plant in Raigarh. They have played a great part in the development of Raigarh. They have enhanced the power generation capacity at its Raigarh plant from 90 MW to 170 MW thereby taking the total capacity to 230 MW to meet its future captive power requirements.

Agricultural Sector in Raigarh

Apart from industrial sectors, agriculture also play a dominant role in the economy of Raigarh. The region has a large tribal population engaged in agricultural and forest produce . Agriculture still is a main part of Raigarh economy. Cultivation of Paddy is done on a large scale in this part of Chhattisgarh. Tendu leaves used for making bidis is also a source of income in the region.

Cottage Industries in Raigarh

Raigarh is also famous for the production of Kosa or silk. Kosa is created by small silk worms when they feed on the mulberry fruit and produce a kind of a fine silk. The thread produce is in turn used to make clothing and is generally used to make Indian outfits like sarees. Because of its shine, luster and softness Kosa is extensively used for manufacturing traditional Indian sarees. The Kosa industry is another blooming industry in Raigarh. Kosa material is a favorite not only for the people in the city but also a favorite for people all over the country. Because it’s valued for its purity, texture and excellent quality, people from all over India flock to get their hands on this material.


Dhokra Casting' or 'Bell Metal Casting' is another attraction which is an acclaimed art form of Raigarh. Made by the tribes in Raigarh, these objects are famous for their aesthetic value. The tribal’s get their inspiration from their close association with nature and with this inspiration they create many amazingly beautiful crafts and raw materials sourced entirely from their surrounding environment. These tribes make use of what Mother Nature has to offer and transform it into products used to sustain their livelihood. Bell metal, brass and bronze are also used to produce dull gold figurine and other art objects. This practice is famous not only in Raigarh but also other parts of Chhattisgarh like Bastar, Kondagaon and Nagarnar. Each item is a reference to the local mythology, rituals, religion, and folklore in the form of exquisite shapes. For these tribes producing these materials through the old ways without the use of modern machinery is their way of surviving.

As you can see the economy of Raigarh has come a long way from a small tiny district to now one of India’s main industrial sectors. Their economy consists of both agriculture and industries working side by side to improve the conditions of the city and move forward with time.