A recent audit of industrial development programs has revealed wide variances in land improvement spending across different industrial clusters, raising concerns about planning inefficiencies and resource allocation. While some clusters invested heavily in essential infrastructure like internal roads, drainage systems, and utilities, others showed minimal expenditure despite high land pricing. This disparity has led to significant differences in the operational readiness and market attractiveness of various industrial parks. Investors are increasingly wary of zones where land improvement lags behind advertised valuations. The audit findings have triggered calls for more standardized infrastructure benchmarks to guide investment decisions. Uneven development spending is now seen as a major factor affecting industrial land absorption rates.

The audit also highlighted that clusters closer to major urban centers or political priorities received disproportionate improvement funding, while peripheral and emerging hubs remained underdeveloped. In several cases, guidance values were raised uniformly without considering the uneven quality of land improvements delivered on the ground. Such mismatches have distorted buyer expectations and led to lower-than-expected transaction volumes in underperforming parks. Analysts recommend implementing transparent disclosure norms for infrastructure completion status before land sales are launched. Tying future guidance value revisions and incentives to actual development metrics is also being considered. The findings stress the need for better governance and accountability in industrial land development.

The wide variance in land improvement spend underscores a broader reality: industrial growth cannot rely solely on land allocation without corresponding infrastructure investment. Policymakers are now pushing for centralized monitoring systems, third-party audits, and milestone-based funding releases to ensure more equitable and effective development. Developers who proactively invest in comprehensive, transparent land improvements are likely to gain a competitive edge with faster absorption rates and premium valuations. Meanwhile, investors are being urged to conduct deeper due diligence on actual site conditions, not just rely on official land marketing brochures. Closing the infrastructure investment gap across clusters is essential to building a sustainable, balanced, and truly competitive industrial landscape for long-term growth.