Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of Maruti-Suzuki’s third plant, through video conferencing, at Industrial Model Township (IMT), Kharkhoda, Sonipat. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala were present on the occasion.

Modi, speaking on the occasion, said that this expansion will form the basis of immense future potential for Suzuki. “The success of Maruti-Suzuki is also a sign of strong India-Japan partnership. Relations between the two countries have reached new heights in the last eight years,” he said.

Expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking out time from his busy schedule and laying the foundation stone of the project, the Chief Minister appreciated the decision of Maruti Suzuki to set up the third plant in Haryana. “It is such a step, through which the 21st century India is moving towards realizing the dream of ‘Self-reliant India’ and ‘Make in India’. Also, this project will be the foundation stone for Haryana’s prosperity,” he said.

Khattar said that this project will usher the next phase of industrial revolution in Haryana. “More than 11,000 people will get employment from this plant,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the Maruti Suzuki Company has completed four decades in Haryana, and has made a remarkable contribution in giving Haryana the special identity that State has in the automobile sector today. “Out of 1,450 Japanese companies in India, 28 percent have invested in Haryana. We do not believe in B2B, G2G but H2H, that is Heart to Heart relationship,” he added.

Khattar also mentioned the major projects given to Haryana by the Central Government, including Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, Rail Coach Repair Factory, Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway, Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal Expressway, Ballabgarh-Mujesar, Mundka Bahadurgarh, Gurugram. Projects like Sikanderpur, Faridabad-Ballabgarh Metro Link, country’s first elevated railway track in Rohtak, Rohtak-Meham-Hansi railway line and National Cancer Institute on the campus of AIIMS, Jhajjar are also given by Centre to Haryana, he added.

Similarly, in the form of ‘Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor’, the Central Government has also approved a big project for the state, he said, expressing hope that Haryana will continue to get the cooperation of the Central Government in the same way in future as well.

The Chief Minister said that in the recent past, Haryana has not only emerged as a preferred destination for the investors, but the confidence of investors in the State has been continuously strengthened.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, many big companies invested in Haryana and now Maruti Suzuki has set up its plant. “It is the State Government’s endeavour that Haryana should take forward the vision of making India a five-trillion dollar economy by the year 2024. For this, emphasis is being laid on efficient policies, availability of quality infrastructure, ease of doing business, industry-friendly environment and incentive structure,” he said.

He added that the State Government has taken several effective steps to create a conducive environment for industry and business. “It has also ensured to provide timely government services, along with financial incentives to industrialists, businessmen and investors,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that in the last few years, an investment of Rs 40,000 crore has come to Haryana. “We are continuously increasing our exports. The goal of the state government is to double the exports in the coming times,” he added.

Chautala, speaking on the occasion, said that with the establishment of these two plants in Kharkhoda, the area would develop on the lines of Gurugram and a large number of subsidiaries will also set up their industries in Kharkhoda.

He said that the State Government will spend about Rs 900 crore on infrastructure facilities for the development of IMT Kharkhoda so that industrial development takes place in the area. He said that the state’s economy “is developing at a fast pace, and its growth rate in the last 10 years has been 10 percent”.

It is noteworthy that Haryana has become a major automobile manufacturing hub of the country. At present, about 50 percent of the cars made in India are produced in Haryana. Now new Maruti plants will be established in Kharkhoda on 800 acres and 100 acres of land respectively. This project of Maruti Suzuki is estimated to cost more than Rs 18,000 crore. This will generate employment for 11,000 skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled persons.  The first phase of this plant will be commissioned by 2025 with a manufacturing capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum.