Tata Motors project in Singur "national project": Ravi Kant

Kolkata, Sept 27 (UNI) Tata Motors today termed as "national project" the small car unit in West Bengal and said the government's "professional approach" towards industrialisation led it to opt for the state.

" The small car project is a paradigm shift from a normal car project. It is a national breakthrough project. We are treating West Bengal in a special manner seeing the interest of the government in industrialisation, " Tata Motors managing director Ravi Kant said in web conference from Pune.

Refusing to comment on the agitation over acquisition of land at Singur, he said, " We are in a democratic country and everyone has the right to express one's views. " However, on the same line, Mr Kant assured that the Tatas had been doing business in the country over a 100 years now and it will follow the reputation it had garnered over the years.

Mr Kant said Tata Motors would formulate programmes for improvement of the employability of the people affected in the land acquisition so that they could become a technical talent pool and needed not depend on others for their livelihood. " Tatas are not like any other organisation and live with the society, " he said.

" We will start a survey of the people of the area and set up institutes, ITIs and community centres for the uplift of the people of the area, " he said.

Asked why the company did not chose the non-agricultural site at Dankuni, Mr Kant said the land shown to company was not on the National Highway (NH) leading to the company pitching for the land in Singur.

He said the company was "running against time" for the small car project and hoped to get the land by the year end.

" The prototype of the car is under test in Pune and the technological tie-ups are complete. The vendors have also been finalised. All things are in process, " he said.

On whether the dream car would be made, he said," Everybody criticised us when brought out the passenger car in the Indian market. Now we are occupying a leading market share and sending our cars to Europe and South Africa. " UNI TJP SJC RN1927