Tata Metaliks expansion delayed

Inordinate delay in land acquisition by the West Bengal government has derailed the expansion plan of Tata Metaliks.

The company had applied for 350 acre land near the existing plant at Kharagpur for expansion in February 2005, Harsh K Jha, managing director, Tata Metaliks, said today. "Three years have already passed. We are yet to get the land although we had paid 70% of the value in advance," he said, adding it was extremely disappointing for the company.

"We are working on multiple projects, and are looking for alternative sites outside the state," Jha added.

As per the original plan, the cost of expansion was pegged at Rs 700-900 crore. The project cost has now gone haywire due to the delay, Jha said.

Asked whether they had received any communication from the state government, Jha said the company was expecting to get the land by July.