RIICO to develop Bhiwadi as automobile manufacturing hub

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Industrial Corporation (RIICO) today said it will develop Bhiwadi region in Rajasthan as an automotive hub that will generate investments to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore.

''It will boost auto and auto components sector in the country which is witnessing a boom with major national and international manufacturers interested in setting up their plants here,'' RIICO Managing Director Kuldeep Ranka said.

The state offers the right kind of infrastructure, requisite resources, land, power supply, work force and proximity to the national capital to automobile and other companies,'' he added.

Recently RIICO has provided about 600 acres of land to Honda Siel Cars India Ltd (HSCIL) to set up its second manufacturing plant on 350 acres land, a Research and Development (R&D) facility on 100 acres and a key ancillary unit on 150 acres.

''Honda's presence in Khuskhera will encourage more national and international companies to come forward and set up their facilities in Rajasthan,'' said Mr Ranka.

The presence of automobile majors like Maruti Udyog, Ashok Leyland, Eicher, Hero Honda, Honda Siel Cars, amongst others in the region has facilitated growth of the manufacturing sector in Rajasthan in a major way.

The auto cluster of the state (in Alwar district), after Pune and Chennai, produces more than 60 per cent of passenger car vehicles, 55 per cent of motorcycles and 25 per cent of tractors manufactured in the country, a statement said.

Moreover, about 70 auto component units including Caparo Fasteners, Climate System, Federal Mogul, Goetze, Hi-Tech Gear, Ocap Chassis, Amtek India, Balkrishan Tyres and Continental Engines are also present in the Bhiwadi region.

RIICO has also created an exclusive auto-engineering zone in a new industrial area, Pathredi in the Bhiwadi region, where Caparo Engineering, Shriram Pistons, Pearaylal and Sons and TPS Infrastructures will set up their automotive units.

It is further acquiring 1200 acres of land in the region for enlargement of an auto complex along with developing a common infrastructure facility for auto units, a 'tool room' and a 'training centre' in Pathredi.

Last year, RIICO had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with JETRO (Japanese External Trade Organisation) for investments in Neemrana and has reserved an industrial part for Japanese investments mostly for small and medium auto component sector.

UNI