A Rs 250-300 crore (Rs 2.5-3 billion) healthcare facility in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of 200-300 beds is being planned by the Hinduja Group of Companies.
"We are planning to create a healthcare facility in Tamil Nadu currently evaluated at a cost of Rs 250- Rs 300 crore similar to that of the company's healthcare facility in Mumbai," group chairman Srichand P Hinduja said addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the conglomerate's flagship company Ashok Leyland's here last night.
Giving details about the project, he said, "The facility would initially have 200-300 beds and might be set up in two- and-a-half years".
He said "we were scouting for locations in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu and have planned to hold discussions with the state government in this regard".
Hinduja further said that the group intended to make Ashok Leyland one of the top five commercial vehicle manufacturers in the world in the next 10 years.
"Ashok Leyland has come a long way from producing 15,000 vehicles per year to 85,000-vehicle capacity in the last two decades. We will continue to invest in the technological, commercial and management skills of our employees", the chairman said, adding they would also simultaneously expand by acquiring related businesses in Europe and the Middle East.
Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told the gathering that the country must alter or fine tune its policies towards transportation to ensure more people use public transport and travel less by private vehicles.
Chidambaram said, "While people are encouraged to buy cars, they should also be encouraged to use public transport. The average Indian should feel proud that even though he owns a vehicle, he is happy to commute by public transport."
He said the Indian economy was growing at a rate of nine per cent in the last four years and had slightly slipped this year. "Wealth must be created and shared. Ashok Leyland is one company that has created wealth and shared it with its employees and shareholders and even the Government in the form of taxes."
In his address, Hinduja said physical infrastructure of the country needs to be on "par" with global standards and that the government should make a transparent policy for attracting more investors to the country.
Recalling how the group grew, the Chairman said, "we learnt from our parents in our early days (and) that has shaped our group...we wish our parents could be with us today."
Thanking the Tamil Nadu government for its support, Hinduja said, "we fully appreciate the support given by them (state government) as Ashok Leyland was the first company which we acquired when we decided to invest in India."
Before concluding his speech, the Chairman also requested the Finance Minister to introduce a compulsory policy for enabling corporates to have social responsibility.
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said," there should be a steady growth in the automotive industry suiting the changing trends.
"I am sure that Ashok Leyland, a key player in the automobile sector, will cater to the growing needs of people" he added.