The Hindu Business Line : No plan now to shift project from Singur: Tatas

Tata Motors has no plan, as of now, to shift its proposed small car project from Singur in West Bengal, where the State Government is facing protests against acquiring farmlands for the project.

"As of now, we have no alternative site in mind, though there are proposals from other States," Mr Ravi Kant, Tata Motor's Managing Director, said here on Tuesday.

The Orissa Government has reportedly offered land for the project.

Mr Ravi Kant said there was no change in the company's plan to roll out the car by 2008. "We are now working on ways to cut time to meet the deadline," he said.

"We never anticipated we would face this kind of a problem in Singur. On the contrary, we thought the project would be welcomed by all including the Trinamool Congress." Ms Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress leader, has been protesting against acquiring farmland for the project.

Mr Ravi Kant said that according to information available the State Government has already received sale consent for 927 acres out of 997 acres needed for the project.

He said the ground reality was different from what was being said by those opposing the project. There are definite plans for project-affected people to make them employable, he said.

Mini-auto city

What the Tatas would be bringing to Singur would not be just a factory. "Singur would become a mini-auto city." As many as 70 vendors would set up shop along with the factory, he said. The project brings in investment of Rs 1,000 crore to Singur.

Tatas have already secured 1,000 acres in Uttaranchal for its 1-tonne Ace trucks.

He said that initially, the Rs 1-lakh car would be available in a petrol version. It would be a five-seater, slightly less spacious than the Tata Indica.

He said the main challenge was not making the car but to create enough demand for them. The plan was to produce a million cars in four-five years.

Asked about the plans of others to make small cars, he said Tata Motors was not worried about competition.