‘Maruti Suzuki, Honda units in Karnataka’

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and Honda Motor Co Ltd are likely to set up units in Karnataka soon and the project will create over two lakh jobs. Addressing a gathering at the Founder’s Day celebrations of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here on Saturday, Minister for Industries Murgesh Nirani revealed that talks are on with Maruti Suzuki about the plant which is proposed to come up in Hubli-Dharwad.

“There is potential for these plants to come up in 1,000 acres of land available there. They will also create two lakh jobs. This kind of jump is much needed in the northern part of the state which is totally isolated from the rest of the state when it comes to development. It also works out politically because all the votes will fall in the right place,” he added.

However, the minister refused to divulge details on other aspects of the project.

Stressing on the need for more investment in the governance strategies in the state T V Mohandas Pai, chairman, Manipal Global Education Services Ltd, said that Karnataka continues to be an economically weak because of the underdeveloped nature of all regions, except for Bangalore.

“The state needs a new industrial policy. Skill development is far below the average. North Karnataka needs to be linked with the southern districts so that there can be balanced development,” he said.

An 8-lane Suvarna Karnataka Super Corridor should be built between Bidar and Bangalore.

 “This Rs 20,000 crore project will link markets to labour appropriately and while north Karnataka will benefit with the labour intensive industry , ” Mohandas Pai observed.