Rajasthan to develop two automotive zones

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SME Times News Bureau | 05 Nov, 2012
Rajasthan will set up two automotive zones in Alwar district in a bid to develop the state as an automobile manufacturing hub, Rajasthan Industries Minister Rajendra Pareek said in Gurgaon Sunday.

The state already has a special auto engineering zone at Pathredi. The new automotive zones will come up at Khushkheda extension and Tapukara extension in Alwar district, the minister said.

Addressing "Invest North" conclave organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, Pareek said Rajasthan is emerging as a hub for automotives and original equipment manufacturing with a huge untapped potential in key sectors like minerals, oil and gas exploration and solar power.

Pareek said Rajasthan has 79 different mineral deposits, of which only 58 are being extracted.

"Rajasthan also has rich reserves of oil and natural gas. Some of it is already being extracted. The Mangla oilfield discovered in our state in 2004 is the largest hydrocarbon find in the country since 1985," he said.

Pareek said similar opportunities existed in cement, ceramics, glass and farm products. Initiatives were also being taken to encourage investment in renewable sources of energy, especially in solar, wind power and bio-mass, he added.

Rajasthan ranks fifth among all states in producing power from renewable sources. Around 8,000 hectares of land has been earmarked for solar parks in the state.

He said IT sector was employing around 15,000 people.

Pareek said the government of Rajasthan has among the best investor-friendly policies. He said the Investment Promotion Scheme of 2010, the Statutory Single Window System and the Online Electronic Clearance Mechanism were ensuring timely and transparent approvals for investments.

Rajasthan's Principal Secretary Sunil Arora said opportunities were particularly significant in infrastructure, power, ceramic and glass, auto and auto ancillaries, solar energy, information technology, outsourcing, cement, mineral and stone-based industries, agro processing, textiles and garments, tourism, gems and jewellery and education.

He said a Greenfield Integrated Township will be developed in the Bhiwadi-Neemrana-Khushkheda belt, with high-speed physical connectivity to the national capital. This, he said, was the first major project along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor.

"Around 170 sq km had already been delineated for this futuristic city. It will be a high-tech industrial and agricultural area with a knowledge city, besides residential areas. The proceedings for notifying the master plan of the city have already been initiated," Arora said.