Ashok Leyland breaks ground for bus plant in Andhra, to commence operations in 6 months

Ashok Leyland, world’s fourth largest bus maker and flagship of the Hinduja Group, ton Saturday commenced construction of its third Indian bus plant in Andhra Pradesh.The Greenfield manufacturing facility, involving Rs 340 crore of investment in two phases will make 9,600 buses a year at the end of two phases, the Ashok Leyland MD and chief executive Vinod Dasari told your visiting jourmalists.Dasari said the plant, located at Mallavalli industrial area of Krishna district, some 40km from Vijayawada, will commence commercial operations of bus assembling six months from the government readying rhe road infrastructure.Dasari spoke to journalists on the sidelines of ground braking ceremony in the presence of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. He said the plant will employment over 5,000 people, mostly locals picked up and trained.“While the plant will have the capability to make the entire range of buses of Ashok Leyland brand, the facility will also include an electric vehicle development centre comprising of a futuristic conveyor line, pilot assembly line and prototype development. It will be a completely green facility, with rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, battery operated vehicles for in-plant movement, positive water balance and zero discharge,” said Vinod Dasari.“This facility will help us be ahead of the curve by ensuring our readiness towards implementation of the bus body code and to meet the rising demand for ready-to-use, fully-built Trucks as well. We will also produce Electric vehicles at this plant. The new plant is also strategically located to meet the demands of Center, East and Southern India markets,” said Dasari.Welcoming Ashok Leyland to Andhra Pradesh, Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, said, “It is a key addition to our family expanding manufacturing hub here.”In a statement, DheerajG. Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland has been at the forefront of mass mobility in the country. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future.”

from The Economic Times https://ift.tt/2Gk28AC