Maharashtra CM launches 50,001st Skoda car

Aurangabad, Jan 11 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today launched the 50,001st car of auto giant Skoda Auto India, a subsidiary of Czech Republic's Skoda Auto (Volkswagen Group), at the company's plant at Shendra industrial estate, about 25 km from here.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Deshmukh claimed that the state has attracted many big projects and at least 82 mega projects will be set up in Maharashtra in the near future.

He said the state will have 119 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and there will be no opposition to these ventures from any quarter.

While referring to the ongoing strike by the Skoda workers, the Chief Minister urged the local leaders to resolve all the issues amicably and without any hassle with Skoda-India, which has helped the state attract a number of big projects.

He also requested the Skoda management to sort out all the union related issues amicably.

Skoda India managing director (technical) Jean Marie Lagey said the company will increase the production capacity of its plant to 30,000 per year.

Skoda Auto chairman of board of directors, Reinhard Jung, also spoke on the occasion. Those who attended the function included Minister of State for Housing Preetamkumar Shegaokar, local MLAs Rajendra Darda and Kalyan Kale, and principal secretary (industry) V K Jairath.

UNI XR SSS PDT KN2134