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Destination next for Nano: Will it be Gujarat?

Published on Fri, Oct 03, 2008 at 21:01 | Source : CNBC-TV18

Updated at Mon, Oct 06, 2008 at 14:22

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Tata Motors' Nano will not roll out of Singur. After a one-hour meeting with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Chairman Ratan Tata said a decision had been taken to move the project out of the state. He blamed the decision on the agitation faced by the company in the State, and the threat to employee and vendor safety.

Addressing a press conference, Tata Motors' Chairman Ratan Tata said that Nano will come on committed time. "We will soon announce about new locations for Nano and are looking for congenial environment to set up Nano plant. We will make makeshift arrangements to meet the Nano deadline. We are yet to evaluate the financial losses in moving out of West Bengal. We will try and relocate those we have trained for the Nano project in other locations."

Here is a verbatim transcript of Sushmita Mohapatra's comments on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.

It is learnt that Gujarat could be the state where Nano could reach. A couple of locations that they could be looking at in Gujarat are Mundra and Kutch and Sanand, which is about 25 kms from Ahmedabad. Also there is 2,200 acres of land that belongs to the Gujarat Government under the Gujarat Agricultural University. Sources believe this could be the land where the Nano's mother plant could be set up.

The reason why the Nano could come to Gujarat includes proximity to the engineering hub - Rajkot - where 30% of Nano's components are being made. Mundra and Kandla ports and will be close to the mother plant if set up here. Also it will be very close to the Delhi-Mumbai corridor, which will help the Nano if it comes to Gujarat. Sources feel that they are very keen to come here. Earlier Tata Motors ' MD Ravi Kant had met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wherin Modi had made offers to Ravi Kant. It could be likely that Nano could be here if everything works out for them.