Kolkata:
The Tata Nano seems to be chasing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. It was just another routine inauguration for the Railway Minister, the auto hub at Howrah. Mamata was giving a pro-industry speech--how the hub would be a great facility for automakers.
And take a look at the first lot of cars to come out of the hub -- the Tata Nano -- the car Mamata Banerjee single-handedly managed to drive out of Singur over a long-drawn violent protest against Tata Motors.
Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday inaugurated the Indian Railways' auto hub at Shalimar in Howrah, where representatives of several automobile companies, including Tatas' Nano stood in attendance while she announced a string of industrial projects for Bengal and called for more private participation in the railways.
Besides executives from auto majors like Hyundai, Maruti, Mahindra, G S Mekon, AGM of Tata Motors, was also present at the function, but did not speak to reporters. Cars of various companies will be parked in the auto hub and later transported to different parts of the country by the railways.
"We deliver on our promise. In this auto hub, there are parking facilities for 5,000 cars. This will be increased to 60,000. Nine such auto hubs will be set up in various parts of the country, including in Bangalore, Nasik, Ernakulam, New Jalpaiguri," Banerjee said during the inauguration function at Shalimar railway station.
"I am requesting private parties to come forward and work with us on the public-private-partnership model. We have set up a special cell for that. One can come and place one's proposals there. We also regularly publish advertisements in the newspapers," she added.
The railway minister also sought to shed her anti-industry image, announcing a string of projects to be set up by the railways in private partnership.
"We are looking for land to set up ancillary units here. At Dankuni, we will set up a rail industry. At Sankrail, where we have enough land, we will set up an EMU coach factory. Another coach factory will be inaugurated at Kanchrapara on March 21. We will set up a broadband equipment factory in Cooch Behar and an air-conditioned container industry in Budge Budge," Banerjee added.
(
With inputs from PTI)