Cabinet okays addl 300 acres to Tata Motors

Bangalore, June 4 (UNI) The Karnataka Cabinet has formally approved allotment of additional 300 acres of land to Tata Motors for its proposed luxury bus manufacturing facility near Dharwad, Home and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M P Prakash announced today.

Briefing newspersons here after a Cabinet meeting, Mr Prakash said the government had already allotted 600 acres to the company and the company was in possession of the land.

The company was expected to invest Rs 2734 crore to provide employment to 36,675 people. Top officials, including Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary and Industry Secretary would chalk out the guidelines to provide further amenities including the option of soft loan, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the company would manufacture 26,150 units, comprising luxury and mini-buses and light commercial vehicles annually.

He said the Cabinet also discussed the charges leveled by opposition Congress with regard to pending of files and said they were far from truth.

Substantiating the government stand, Mr Prakash said there were 1.93 lakh files pending as on December 31, 2003 and it was reduced to 1.29 lakhs as on April 30, 2007.

He said the Cabinet has approved preparation of a techno-economic feasibility study jointly by Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Public Works Department to connect the Bangalore International Airport near Devanahalli with other towns such as Bidadi, Nelamangala, Hoskote Anekal and other places.

Besides, the proposed interior ring road around the city and circular roads in outer areas of the city were also cleared, he said.

The government would implement the project in four stages and Rs 400 crore would be released for the purpose initially.

Mr Prakash said the Cabinet has also decided to issue an ordinance with regard to setting up of a Law University in Hubli.

UNI