The millennium’s first “mahakumbh” today kicked off at the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand, which is expected to attract 40 to 50 million pilgrims during the next four months.
But the kumbh has also brought opportunity for the government to attract business investments in the hill state.With scores of top industrialists expected to take holy bath in the Ganga at Haridwar, the government is trying to shortlist all those, who may be interested in investing in Uttarakhand. The first industrialist in such list is Prakash Hinduja, who met Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank here last night.
Hinduja this morning left for Haridwar to take bath in the holy river at Haridwar. But before leaving, he told Nishank that the manufacturing facility of Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja group’s flagship company, would start production in March for which the state government has already allotted 17 acres of additional land for further expansion.
The company would now double its investment to Rs 2,000 crore from Rs 1,000 crore at the Pantnagar facility. Ashok Leyland is planning to produce commercial vehicles and engine parts. The company would be manufacturing 40,000 vehicles per year and promises to give employment to 2,200 persons.
Hinduja also said the company would like to make foray into housing business. For this purpose, the company would like to make use of its 10 acres of land at Haridwar, which is lying vacant.
The company has also promised to set up a knowledge park in Uttarakhand for which it would shortly work out a detailed plan. The group is also seeking opportunities for a tie up with the government in hospital sector. “This is just a beginning. I think more such opportunities lie ahead,” said a top government official. In the next four months during the kumbh mela, the government would establish contacts with other business leaders, like Anil Ambani, Pawan Munjal, Anand Mahindra, Rahul Bajaj among others.