Vadodara: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani dedicated the Plasser India heavy rail machinery state-of-the-art plant at Dethan village in Karjan taluka in Vadadara district today as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of ‘Make in India’ policy and make India a 5-trillian dollar economy.

Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the need for alternative environmental-friendly surface transport system, as 20 per cent of air pollution is caused by surface transport. While Vadodara is being developed as railway hub with Bullet train, Railway University, Metro trains and coach manufacturing unit, he said that this Plasser India’s second plant in India will produce over 100 such track-laying and other machinery annually. It should encourage more research and development in the railways.

He recalled that Khanderao Gaekwad had started the narrow gauge railway train pulled by bullocks in the erstwhile Baroda princely state in 1862. He said that Gujarat is known for futuristic planning, encouraging a slew of foreign direct investment. Gujarat has 1,600 km long coastline and seaports are also being developed simultaneously.

Plasser India Managing Director Seigfried Fink said he felt proud to be partner of Gujarat’s development story, to contribute to Indian Prime Minister’s Make in India policy. He thanked the state and local authorities for ease of land settlement, setting up the facility in Vadodara.

Austrian Ambassador Ms. Brigitte spoke of her country’s contribution to development if railways in India. She said the heavy rail machinery plant set up here under ‘Make in India’ to become ‘Made in India’, exporting machinery too.

Indian Railway Board Member (Engineering) Vishwesh Choube said that India has at present 950 track laying machinery as it has placed orders for 850 more such machinery, and multiply the number three times in five years.

Those present on the occasion included MP Ranjanben Bhatt, MLA Akshay Patel, ex-MLA Satish Patel, Plasser India Chairman Max Theurer and Directors, District Collector Shalini Agrawal, DDO Kiran Zaveri, District Police head Desai and others.

– Information