Evincing interest in the infrastructure, housing, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and skill development projects, the TATA group of companies on Thursday promised the State Government of massive investment in Punjab.
The assurance to this effect was made after nine leading companies of TATA group worked out the ‘details and economics’ of various projects shortlisted after marathon discussions with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Thursday. With this, Punjab is expected to achieve a major breakthrough in industrialisation, urban development and power infrastructure development.
TATA group companies represented by TATA motors vice-chairman Ravikant and others had a detailed discussion with Deputy Chief Minister, Industry and Commerce Minister Anil Joshi, Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. The discussion followed detailed deliberations in five sub-groups, where individual companies shared their notes with Principal Secretaries of the concerned departments.
Ravikant stated that it is for the first time that all TATA group companies have collectively come to a State to have discussion with a State Government in contrast to earlier practice of individual companies having deliberations with States. Inviting TATA group of companies for infrastructure development projects, Sukhbir called them to invest in holistic development of one or two cities to be mutually worked out for ensuring 100 per cent water, sewerage connectivity, power distribution, road development, solid waste management, street lighting with 24X7 help desks.
He added that a multi-thousand crores plan has been chalked out to be completed in next two years for holistic development of 147 cities that offered mega investment opportunities for TATA group stakeholders. “TATA motors can also work out a BRTS system for Metro cities of ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar & Bathinda besides helping the state in the Solar City Project,” he added.
TATA group also evinced their great interest in city level services, BRTS projects, Ropar-Phagwara Expressway, Water City ludhiana and other infrastructure projects of Rs 500 crore and above IT Campus with high-rise concept at Mohali, Solar City Complex, Rooftop Solar Projects, Power Projects, Housing Projects, Downtown at Mohali and ludhiana renewable energy sector including Biomass and Mini-hydels. Seeking the cooperation of TCS in making Punjab offices paperless, Sukhbir said that after making Punjab Secretariat paperless by December this year, they should draw up a project for whole state.
TATA group also evinced great interest to set up TATA Skill University in the State besides investing eco-city and medi-city in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur). They also expressed their desire to setup series of budget hotels in different cities of Punjab besides making a major foray in group housing sector. Ravikant said, “We have plate full of projects and now it is our responsibility to work out details and economics of each project to put these projects in implementation mode.”