Gujarat - Projects and Development

[bhargavsura]

He said he was quite impressed by the high growth rate and rapid industrial development of Gujarat. Referring to the speedily expanding bi-lateral relations between India and China he said that the scope for increased cooperation in the field of business, investment and other sectors was extremely bright.

Nothing's growing in Gujarat. My friend just came back from Gujarat visiting many different places. I saw the videos of a lot of roads. It absolutely was the worst ever sight. There was no development in Ahemdabad. There was kichhad on the road (agreed that it was raining), the traffic was just a joke... and many more things will continue. I will see if I can get those videos posted on youtube and post them here.

He did tell me that there were some huge malls, tall buildings, and some clean places in many areas. But the rest of the Ahmedabad is still very under developed!!!

[bhopalus]

growING

it's in the process of growing, at some 10-11 percent per year (GDP)

come back in 20 years and compare ahmedabad with any other city in india and you'll see...

[GJ10]

Originally Posted by bhargavsura

Nothing's growing in Gujarat. My friend just came back from Gujarat visiting many different places. I saw the videos of a lot of roads. It absolutely was the worst ever sight. There was no development in Ahemdabad. There was kichhad on the road (agreed that it was raining), the traffic was just a joke... and many more things will continue. I will see if I can get those videos posted on youtube and post them here.

He did tell me that there were some huge malls, tall buildings, and some clean places in many areas. But the rest of the Ahmedabad is still very under developed!!!

Dude, of course the roads will suffer in monsoon, same story in Bombay or anywhere else in the subcontinent. Once the roads are in a sorry state, the traffic becomes more problematic.

To say nothing is growing in Gujarat based on that is pretty ridiculous.

I keep making the same point to a lot of people, but the Growth of Gujarat and the Growth of Ahmedabad are two very seperate entities. It's probably because the Govt of Gujarat has aimed to develop the whole state that Ahmedabad is not an incredibly impressive stand-alone city.

[superdesi2100]

Originally Posted by bhargavsura

Nothing's growing in Gujarat. My friend just came back from Gujarat visiting many different places. I saw the videos of a lot of roads. It absolutely was the worst ever sight. There was no development in Ahemdabad. There was kichhad on the road (agreed that it was raining), the traffic was just a joke... and many more things will continue. I will see if I can get those videos posted on youtube and post them here.

He did tell me that there were some huge malls, tall buildings, and some clean places in many areas. But the rest of the Ahmedabad is still very under developed!!!

My perception is exactly opposite. I currently live in US. When I made a trip to India in 2002, my native village had no roads, no electricity. Water would come 3 times a week. During my trip to India 2007, the same village had asphalt roads leading up to it from nearest towns. Nearly every household had 24 hours electricity. All farmers had 3-phase power available for farming. Many houses had satellite dishes and they were watching cable. Narmada's water has reached there now. Water is available twice a day.

Agreed, there is not much progress visible in Ahmedabad, but that is the case in most Indian cities. Indian cities are so chronically crowded that is very very difficult to develop infrastructure at a visible rapid pace.

Another example - I made a trip to Rajkot from Ahmedabad. It took me 6 hours in 2002 - took me 4 hours in 2007. Trip from Ahmedabad to Udaipur was 7 hours in 2002, was 5 hours in 2007. There were only 3 major hospitals in Ahmedabad in 2000. Now there are several. The Sardar Patel Ahmedabad Bypass has now become a well developed SG Highway and government has had to build an entirely new Ahmedabad bypass to bypass the old bypass.

Sabarmati river, which used to remain dry for 10 out of 12 months, now remains full of water all year round - courtesy Narmada water. Pollution has come down to the extent that Ahmedabad is now considered one of the least polluted big cities of India.

There are just some of the examples - there is a lot that has happened. Swanky roads and towering buildings are not the only signs of growth and progress...

[bhopalus]

Originally Posted by superdesi2100

There are just some of the examples - there is a lot that has happened. Swanky roads and towering buildings are not the only signs of growth and progress...

exactly. if towering buiildings are your measure of development, then malaysia and china should be way, way more developed than California which obviously isnt true

[superdesi2100]

Tata’s Nano set to get new home: Modi’s Gujarat

Source

The Nano will roll out of Gujarat as the state Government gets ready with the red carpet for Tata Motors.

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata is expected to arrive here tomorrow and make a joint announcement to this effect with Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The project is expected to come up near Sanand in Ahmedabad district where the state government is said to have completed all groundwork relating to concessions and land-acquisition for construction the approach road to the plant site.

Chief Secretary D Rajgopalan and Industries Minister Minister Saurabh Patel are likely to be present at the joint press conference. Principal Secretary (Industries) Gauri Kumar is learnt to have met top Tata Motors executives last week.

State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel said: “A proper person (read Modi) will make an announcement at the proper time on whether the Tatas will relocate their small car project in Gujarat”. Asked if her department had offered over 1,000 acres to Tata Motors at Chharodi and Charal in Sanand, she said: “You will come to know about all this at proper time.” Incidentally, a third of the spare parts/components required for the Nano are produced by auto ancillary units in Rajkot.

Finally, Nano all set to drive into Gujarat

Source

There could be a huge gift in store for Narendra Modi as he completes seven years in office as Gujarat chief minister on Tuesday. The a
ir is thick with anticipation as top Tata Motors honchos flew down from Mumbai late on Monday evening to take one final look at the site near Sanand, 25 kms from the western fringes of Ahmedabad, which has been identified for relocation of the Nano plant. Tata chief Ratan Tata is also expected to arrive on Tuesday.

Sources said the decks have been cleared for transfer of 1,000 acres of land to the Tatas. Modi's council of ministers will meet at 10 am before the Tata team arrives. The land which the Tatas have to finally select is located within a 2200-acre campus owned by the Anand Agriculture University which serves as a cattle and seed farm.

The university has already transferred 1,000 acres back to the government which went into an overdrive to woo Tata Motors ever since the situation started worsening at Singur in West Bengal. Government officials were hopeful that the deal will be clinched on Tuesday, after a final round of negotiations on the concessions Tata Motors will be seeking.

While Modi has been personally averse to giving concessions to industry, on the ground that such concessions given in the past had led to a huge loss of revenue to the exchequer, there is willingness to make an exception in the case of the Nano project.

"We had to relax our rigid stand considering the fact that other state governments were going all out to roll the red carpet for the Nano plant. Losses due to concessions would be offset by the immense positivity created around the investment climate in Gujarat," a senior official of the industries department said, while admitting that there could be a tough last round of negotiations.

While Tata Motors' scouts were scouring sites in Karnataka, AP and Maharashtra over the last two days, there was an air of tentativeness in the Sachivalaya at Gandhinagar, even as officials went about clearing all the documents to transfer 1,000 acres in one go. "Our biggest advantage is that we can hand over the land to Tata Motors on Tuesday itself," a source said.

[bhargavsura]

Cool!!

[zenith_suv]

Congrats to Gujrat on getting the project - it will futhur propel the growth of an already booming state.

[ajithv]

Its official now. Four days after formally withdrawing from Singur (West Bengal), citing relentless violence and agitation, Tata Motors on Tuesday signed an agreement with the government of Gujarat for building the Nano car plant in the western state.

The agreement was signed with the Gujarat government in Gandhinagar today in the presence of state chief minister Narendra Modi, and Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

Tata Motors had received offers from several other states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra after announcing its pullout on Oct. 3 from West Bengal, where local farmers not happy with the compensation forced the company to halt work on the Nano plant.

Tata Motors has identified a site at Sanand, about 30 kms away from Ahmedabad, where the state government will give the company 1,100 acres from the Anand Agricultural University for housing the Nano car project.

Tata Motors will invest about Rs20bn on the Nano mother plant at Sanand. Initially, the plant will roll out 250,000 units of the Nano. This can be scaled up to 500,000 units once the entire plant is up and running. The project will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source

[sakrishna]

Originally Posted by ajithv

Its official now. Four days after formally withdrawing from Singur (West Bengal), citing relentless violence and agitation, Tata Motors on Tuesday signed an agreement with the government of Gujarat for building the Nano car plant in the western state.

The agreement was signed with the Gujarat government in Gandhinagar today in the presence of state chief minister Narendra Modi, and Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

Tata Motors had received offers from several other states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra after announcing its pullout on Oct. 3 from West Bengal, where local farmers not happy with the compensation forced the company to halt work on the Nano plant.

Tata Motors has identified a site at Sanand, about 30 kms away from Ahmedabad, where the state government will give the company 1,100 acres from the Anand Agricultural University for housing the Nano car project.

Tata Motors will invest about Rs20bn on the Nano mother plant at Sanand. Initially, the plant will roll out 250,000 units of the Nano. This can be scaled up to 500,000 units once the entire plant is up and running. The project will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source

Kudos to Narendra Modi and BJP.

[bhargavsura]

[GJ10]

Great news for Gujarat and for TATA Motors!

Cant help but love the irony of a BJP-led state profiting from all this backwards leftist BS

This will be yet another big message to all potential investors, be they from India or Abroad, that if you want to get things done, you can't do much better than to invest in Gujarat!

I could go on, but I think Ratan Tata himself summed it up when he famously said about Businesses Investing in Gujarat:

"You're stupid if you're not here!"

[GJ10]

India Inc Happy over Nano finding Home in Gujarat

New Delhi (PTI): A relieved India Inc on Tuesday said the Tatas moving to Gujarat for its iconic Nano car project will end the phase of negative investment sentiment in the country.

Hailing Gujarat as an investor-friendly state, apex business chambers said that a new atmosphere has emerged with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi welcoming the Tatas.

"Nano has found a home at last in Gujarat. We see a new atmosphere where the chief minsters across the political parties have begun to exhibit healthy competition for major investments," Ficci Secretary General Amit Mitra said.

He hoped that Nano would come out at the earliest and meet global expectations of a resurgent India.

CII Secretary General Chandrajit Banerjee described Gujarat as "one of the most investor friendly states with an impeccable record of industrial relations."

Assocham said the Tatas' decision to move to Gujarat puts the Singur controversy behind and makes the Indian industry a relieved lot. "A healthy competition between the states augurs well for the country," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said the Gujarat deal has reinforced confidence among the industry. "Gujarat is seen as the next global destination for automobile manufacturers," SIAM Director General Dilip Chenoy said.

He said the agreement would change the negative sentiment in the industry.

The Indian industry was quite sharp in its criticism of the Singur violent incidents which led to the Tatas pulling out of West Bengal for its prestigious project.

Gujarat Euphoric over Nano Relocation

Farmers at Sanand village in Gujarat burst crackers and distributed sweets on Tuesday evening, welcoming the Tata Motors' decision to relocate the Rs 15-billion Nano car project to the state.

Alongside, corporate Gujarat also rejoiced.

"It is a matter of great pleasure that Mr Ratan Tata's prestigious Nano car will roll out from Gujarat," said Parimal Nathwani, Reliance Industries Ltd president for corporate affairs and Rajya Sabha member.

"It is a decisive stamp on Gujarat's overall image of a vibrant and investor-friendly state," he said in an official statement here.

He also said the Tatas and Gujarat were inseparable because of the group's presence in Mithapur, near Dwarka in Gujarat, for several decades through a Tata Chemicals plant there.

Added Vinai Saxena, director at Dholera Port and SEZ Ltd: "The pullout of the Nano project from Bengal proves that Gujarat is in a state of democratic harmony, industrial peace and development. The Mamata (Banerjee) and Medha (Patkar) factors that irresponsibly affect national development do not affect Gujarat."

Similarly, Sunil Parekh, advisor to Zydus Cadilla Group, said he was "truly euphoric".

"The project will add 10,000 additional jobs with Tata himself investing Rs.2,000 crore (Rs.20 billion). It will benefit other vendors too. It will give huge boost to ancillaries industry," Parekh said.

According to him, the Nano project would put Ahmedabad on the world map. "Foreigners will say, 'Oh, you come from where Nano is manufactured?'," Parekh said. "Gujarat's bureaucracy is well tuned to business development."

YK Alagh, former central minister and chairman of Institute of Rural Management at Anand, said both north and central Gujarat would progress. "This will bring in technological innovations as Nano is a new technological project," he said.

Rajkot Engineering Association president Bhavesh Patel also welcomed the development, saying the near 2,000 big and 7,000 small casting and machining industries in Rajkot and Saurashtra would benefit.

"It is a day of rejoicing for trade circles," added Hitesh Baghdai, president of the Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Why TATA chose Gujarat for Nano

Tata Motors opted for Gujarat over several other states for its Nano project because of the speed at which the state acted after the auto major pulled out of Singur in West Bengal, company chairman Ratan Tata said in Gandhinagar on Friday.

"We have selected Gujarat over other states because of the speed in which it acted," Tata said at a press conference, which was also addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"The site in Gujarat, already under the possession of the state government, will help Tata Motors establish a new dedicated mother plant with the shortest possible time lag and least possible incremental project cost," Tata said.

He said the infrastructure available in the state, as well as the spirit and enterprise of the people of Gujarat and the state government led by Modi also made the choice compelling in the best interest of the project.

Company officials said the strategic location of Sanand, some 30 km from Ahmedabad and its proximity to the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway made the new site attractive.

The plant will be spread over about 1,100 acres, and will have an initial capacity of 250,000 units, which can be expanded to 500,000 cars annually.

The project, including Tata Motors' plant, vendor facilities and units for service providers, will together generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Apart from Gujarat, states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand had tried to wangle the project, which was moved out of Singur, West bengal, after wallowing in controversy for over two years since its inception.

[GJ10]

An poignant article:

For TATAs, I could give my land for free!

Farmer-turned-industrialist Ravubha Vaghela was a very happy man on Monday after selling his entire 30 acres of land at Khoda and Naranpura villages to Gujarat government.

He only hoped Tatas would bring their prestigious Nano project to the chosen site. Vaghela had earmarked this land for expansion of his firm, Raviraj Foils Limited.

But the minute he was approached by state government officials, he willingly sold the land for building approach road from Sanand-Viramgam highway to Anand Agriculture University cattle farm that will hopefully be Nanos new home.

Vaghela says he sold the land for Rs 15 crore at Rs 1,000 per square metre, despite the going market rate of Rs 2,500 per sq mt. Vaghela says he could have haggled for a better price or even gone to court.

"But this would have delayed the process and Nano plant could have gone out of Gujarats hands. I was glad to make the sacrifice. For Tata project I could have given my land for free. I am a proud Rajput today that I will be instrumental in bringing Nano project to Gujarat," said Vaghela, who feels its time for him to repay a debt to Tatas.

"During the great famine of 1900 Jamshetji Tata rescued the Kankrej cows being bred at the farm by making a donation of Rs 1,000," he explains, adding that his move symbolises the difference in the outlook of farmers in Gujarat and West Bengal.

Whats more, Vaghela also played a role in convincing other farmers to hand over their land to government. All of them sold their land to government on Monday. Of the nearly 2.05 lakh sq mt private land that Gujarat government has acquired for building the road leading to the site identified for Nano plant, almost two-thirds belong to Vaghela.

[sakrishna]

In no way, this project should bring a rivalry b/w the two sates, viz. Gujarat and WB. hopefully, the common man won't do that. We should not lose the INDIAN identity drom us.
All selfish politicians in our country should be taught a lesson and this applies to Mamata Banerjee also, if she was really concerned about the farmers or wanted to take a political revenge.This doesn't mean that i'm a supporter of Commies, I'm not and proud to say that. And i just expressed my opinion and am not intended to create a debate or contoversy over this issue.

[GJ10]

TATA move kindles investment interest

AHMEDABAD: On Thursday morning, Kaushal Mehta, the CEO of Ahmedabad-based Motif, woke up to a mail from a foreign business associate. The question
was never put to him before despite his average six trips abroad every year.

His US-based associate learnt about the relocation of the world’s cheapest car in Gujarat and was wondering if the state was the right choice for his proposed $100-million semi-conductor plant. The successful entrepreneur and a venture capitalist from the Silicon Valley was earlier toying with other states for his proposed plant. But now, the American seems to have made up his mind.

Tata’s small car has indeed turned out to be a mega ambassador for Gujarat in 48 hours flat. Ever since Ratan Tata announced the relocation of Nano, a host of industrialists from the state received passionate enquiries from their business partners abroad looking for investment in India. Mukesh Bhandari, the chairman of Ahmedabad-based Electrotherm India, which gave country’s first e-bike, YoBykes, said within 24 hours of the Nano announcement, a French electric vehicle player approached him to discuss about the state of Gujarat and the prospects of investment here.

Textile major Chiripal Industries, too, has already received enquiries from a domestic player seeking investment in Gujarat. “The company intends to diversify and bring technical textiles under its ambit. It is in talks with us to set up its manufacturing facility around Ahmedabad,” director of the company, Vishal Chiripal told ET. “Nano has created industrial goodwill all around. It was a high-voltage event that charged up everyone. Our overseas buyers are enthusiastic about the developments and have been inquiring about the $2,500 car and investment climate in Gujarat. Textile players from Dubai and France, keen on investing in India, are asking about the infrastructure of the state and the administration.”

Another state-based leading homelinen exporter which recently acquired an international brand received enquiries from a US-based technical textile player willing to set up shop near Ahmedabad. “With Gujarat emerging victorious, the state is being perceived as a top investment destination,” said Mr Mehta. Nano's international fame for being the cheapest car has suddenly put it on the world map. Only today I received a mail from a US-based company interested in setting up a $100-million plant, asking me how I could help them in facilitating the investment,” said Mr Mehta.

“Nano's presence has clearly brought us recognition from international quarters. For those in the know of things, Nano will reaffirm their belief in the state. Investors will come in flocks now,” said Mr Bhandari.

[phaedrus]

Nano project to boost car components industry in Gujarat

Tata's Nano Car Project coming to Gujarat will boost the small scale industrial units engaged in manufacturing car components here, indust
ry experts feel.

Various engineering units engaged in supplying parts like castings, forging, bearing and other auto components to Nano, said its arrival in the state will give much needed boost to the automobile units operational in the state.
"We expect that the coming of Tata project here will change the scenario of automobile components making industry in the state. Car components making units working in other states will also come to Ahmedabad or Rajkot," President of Rajkot Engineering Association Bhavesh Patel said.

Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat Government for relocation of Nano Car Project to Sanand on the outskirts of Ahmedabad from Singur in West Bengal.

Automobile component major Kadvani Forging Director Jayant Jamuara said local units here will save around Rs 16 lakh per month as transportation charges earlier paid to send components to Tata's Nano project in Singur.

Either supplier or receiver had to bear the transportation charge of nearly 400 tonnes of spare parts being dispatched from here every month to Singur. The expenses will come down since the project will be in Sanand now, said Jamaura.

source economictimes.com

[bhargavsura]

Yeah... but now it faces some obstacles from some farmers in couple of places over Land Compensation....

click here

[phaedrus]

aah well, seems like trouble is following the Nano where ever it goes.

anyway, some more good news for Gujarat

Infrastructure draws corporates to Gujarat

When it comes to a ready infrastructure including manpower, electricity and water supply, then Gujarat has an upper hand. The state ha
s been taking several initiatives over the last few years that ensure a robust infrastructure in place.

Apart from top engineering institutes, the state also has 165 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), of which 60 have facility for a two-year course for motor mechanic vehicle, training 2,912 youths. Another one-year course of motor mechanics trains 3,568 youths through 87 centres across the state. Youths undertaking the two courses will be useful for the Nano plant.

This apart, Toyota, Eicher and General Motors have signed agreements to set up centre of excellence to cater to their own requirements. Besides, GM has signed an agreement to set up centre of excellence in Vadodara with a capacity of 40 students, to cater to their own requirements.

AK Mehta, assistant director, directorate of employment and training, Gujarat, said: “We have got sufficient capacity to meet the requirements with a scope to further expand the seat capacity at ITIs if so required.”

In terms of power availability, the state government’s pledge to make Gujarat a power surplus state is an encouraging
news for the industry setting up shop here, and Tata will certainly benefit from this.

Recently, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL) inked power purchase agreements for over 3,200 mw with private developers and is in the process of signing more such long-term power supply contracts for 2,000 mw.

Further, the state will generate 8,200 mw electricity through at least two ultra mega-power plants, one each by Tata and Adani. Torrent is also considering one such plant.

Gujarat, one of the few states that maintains the 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to its major cities, towns and villages, has also managed to make round-the-clock electricity supply to as many as 18,000 villages.

Several electricity reforms initiated by the government has help reduce power thefts. Under the ambitious Jyoti Gram Yojana, the state saw an investment of Rs 1,500 crore to set up power infrastructure.

source economictimes.com

[ankushgupta]

GANDHINAGAR: The location couldn't have been better, with an international airport on one side and a sea-port on the other. The Gujarat government ha
s closed in on 100 sq km of land between Federa and Dholera for the proposed 'Mini-Japan' township.

The location, approximately 90 km south of Ahmedabad, is said to be ideal because it falls between Federa, the site for a new international airport, and Dholera, where the Adani group plans to build a port and SEZ.

The location has been identified and will be shown to top Japanese corporate houses, which have already evinced interest in setting up a 'Mini-Japan' township along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in Gujarat.

The land falls along the Ahmedabad-Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) proposed by Gujarat along the DMIC, which is being funded by Japanese government.

Within a week, this is the second big news for Gujarat, and Ahmedabad in particular, after Tatas announced on October 7 that they were parking Nano plant near Sanand. Officials said this was the "best possible location" out of three options — one between Mehsana and Palanpur and the other between Bharuch and Dahej — that were considered.

Gujarat expects many Japanese auto giants to set up shop in the township which will virtually turn Gujarat into the biggest auto hub in the country, taking advantage of ports to export small cars to western markets.

The process was started in April 2007 when a huge business delegation from Gujarat led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan. The Japanese External Trade Organisation responded with a visit to Gujarat earlier this year.

Now, the issue is likely to be clinched when a delegation, led by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation managing director Maheshwar Sahu, visits Japan in mid-November. Talks with auto giants like Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki have been lined up.

Since the location chosen for 'Mini-Japan' is water-logged during the monsoon, Gujarat Disaster Management Authority has been asked to commission a study on how to prepare a drainage plan for the SIR.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/3596980.cms