Maruti may set up a third manufacturing factory in Haryana as the Khattar-led state government is likely to allot 1,400 acres of land at Sohna to the country’s largest car maker, a senior Haryana minister said. The car maker has its first facility spread over 300 acres in Gurgaon and a 600-acre Manesar factory that was set up in 2007.
On Sunday, CM Manohar Lal Khattar chaired a meeting, attended by PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, industry minister Vipul Goel, Maruti Suzuki India chief R C Bhargava, additional chief secretary (industries) Devender Singh, HSIIDC managing director T L Satyaprakash and other officials.
Earlier, the state had decided to jointly develop the integrated Industrial Model Township (IMT), Sohna, under the public private partnership (PPP) policy. The 1,400 acres of land was part of 1,700 acres that Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Agency had acquired in 2011 to establish a new industrial township.
According to the initial plan, the state government was to involve private players through the e-auction route, but now it seems the state government may give the land to Maruti through direct allotment, said a source. Regarding the price of the land, senior officials present in the meeting is said to have favoured bidding in order to get the best possible price. Maruti chairman RC Bhargava refused to confirm the development. “We’ve no comment to make,” he said, adding the company “continues to scout for sites” for expansion.
Speaking to TOI, minister Rao Narbir Singh said it’s almost decided that Maruti will be given the entire land falling under IMT Sohna which is currently in HSIIDC’s possession. A sub-committee of Haryana Enterprise Promotion Board, in which he is one of the five members, will take a call on it, he said.
He also said he will raise the issue in the state cabinet as the move will speed up development in Haryana.
Source : TOI