Chorus for Maruti to park in Saurashtra gets louder

The individuals who have joined the chorus include an Information Technology student from Rajkot currently studying in Pune,a metrologist,an employee in a finance firm,an automobile engineer working with German motor giant Volkswagen,a Pune-based techie from Rajkot and a social activist from Rajkot.

With Rajkot city or a nearby area already emerging as the preferred destination by most of these bodies,Rajkot-based industries say MSIL would benefit greatly from the city’s strong engineering-sector background.

Kishor Kadvani,chairman of the industry association at GIDC at Lodhika,said: “Engineering is big in Rajkot. In Lodhika itself,we have 1,200 units. We are exporting to big automobile companies around the world. There are also no labour strikes like at Manesar.”

Shirish Ravani,President of Aji GIDC Association,said: “Our customers are all MNCs,so why not set-up a plant in Rajkot? There are 650 units here (at Aji) which deal with automobile parts and spares.”

As for the bodies in neighbouring districts,they said they are backing the other associations because “a big unit like Maruti anywhere in Saurashtra would benefit the entire region.”

“A big unit like MSIL setting up its unit in Saurashtra,even if it’s in Rajkot,would be followed by other infrastructure such as railways,better water,gas pipelines and other facilities. Our district has been waiting for a broad-gauge rail line for years,but it has not come so far. Nothing comes to Amreli,” said Mahesh Nagadia,president of the Amreli Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Nagadia also said Amreli is not a big industrial zone,and even the district body has only about 350 registered members and about 800 affiliated units. “If Maruti comes here,then we will see a boost in Amreli’s industries,” he said.

Padu Raichura of the Porbander District Chamber of Commerce & Industry said Maruti in Saurashtra would “lead to a balanced development of Gujarat”.