The plant that was recently acquired by Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) at Bechraji in Mehsana district of Gujarat is expected to be commissioned by mid 2015. This decision was expressed by Y.S. Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer for Maruti Suzuki, who was recently in the state for FGI Expo 2013 Agro and Auto Summit. Commenting on the role to be played by the proposed Rs. 4000 crore unit, he said, “The Bechraji unit will manufacture 2.5 lakh cars per annum, while two other plants of the company located at Gurgaon and Manesar in Haryana have been manufacturing 17.5 lakh cars per annum. With Becharaji unit, total production of cars of the company will go up to 20 lakh per year.”
Siddiqui also talked about the difference in prices between petrol and diesel, and a need to maintain a certain state of equilibrium. He felt that the need to buy cars in 2012 had gone down compared to the preceding year due to rising petrol prices and high interest rates. In order to meet the requirement for skilled manpower at its proposed plant, Maruti Suzuki has partnered with the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to set up institutes in Gujarat. The company plans to set up 50 of them, of which 11 have already been created.
A State Support Agreement (SSA) was signed between Maruti Suzuki and the Gujarat State Government for purchasing land in Mehsana during June 2012. Gujarat government allocated 700 acres to the company for building this manufacturing facility. As per market demand, this facility will add to the production potential of the company's existing Gurgaon and Manesar facilities.
