Launching the commercial production of ' Nano' car from the Tata's Sanand facility, he said the project has opened up the development of Sanand-Changodar, as new urban growth centres. Gujarat has thus marched from the Industrial Estates to Industrial Parks to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to Special Investment Regions (SIRs).
While Sanand has drawn the world's attention for the world's smallest car project, he said Dholera town is developed as a SIR, both falling along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).
Shri Modi described the Nano project as a fusion of 'good governance' and 'corporate culture' between Government of Gujarat (GoG) and the Tata House. He lauded the Tata's decision to shift the Nano plant from Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat, instead of some foreign shores. He recalled Tata family's contribution to indigenous steel industry. He looked forward to more such fusions for speedy growth of the nation.The deal was inked on Narendra Modi's seventh anniversary as the Chief Minister on October 7, 2008 and is commissioned today, in less than 20 months time. The plant with a capacity to produce 2.50 lakhs cars per annum has been set up on 1,100-acre plot with an investment of Rs.2,000-crore. It is the Tata's biggest investment in Gujarat. The Tata's are also providing in-house training to 1,000 pass-outs from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in auto industrial skill up-gradation. Shri Modi said: 'It is like Tatas coming back to home. They belonged to Gujarat and Gujarat feels proud of it.'
Reciprocating in Gujarati, Shri Ratan Tata said: 'it is a great opportunity for a corporate house like ours to be able to provide a personal transportation for the common man.' He expressed his happiness at the early completion of the project, in the year of the state's golden jubilee celebration. He looked forward to more investments in the state. Shri Modi and Shri Tata took round of the plant in a Nano car.Tata Motors Vice Chairman Shri Ravi Kant had a word of praise for the excellent support received from Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, backed by the speed and transparency of his government.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Finance Minister Shri Vajubhai Vala, Revenue Minister Smt Anandiben Patel and Minister of State for Industry Shri Saurabh Patel, besides senior government officers, top brass of Tata Motors and dealers.