The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Good roads necessary for growth of automobile sector'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 14, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Good roads necessary for growth of automobile sector'

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE, FEB. 13. The Government will have to provide good roads in order to help the growth of the automobile industry, according to G. Viswanathan, chancellor of the Vellore Institute of Technology.

The automobile industry was growing fast in the country and the world. The country was ranked second in the world in production of two-wheelers and tractors, but only fifth in the production of commercial vehicles. The country exported vehicles worth Rs. 2,000 crores annually, while the automobile and transportation industry provided employment to about 2.5 lakh people.

Lagging behind

But, compared to other nations, the country was lagging behind. While the United States, Japan and Germany accounted for more than half of the production of passenger cars in the world, the U.S. alone accounted for 45 per cent of the production of commercial vehicles. But, the contribution of India to the global production of both passenger and commercial vehicles was only one per cent. "The automobile and transportation industry can grow only when the Government provided good roads," said Mr. Viswanathan, while inaugurating Susee Trucks (P) Ltd., the showroom and workshop of Tata Motors in New Bye-Pass Road here today.

R. Shankar, regional manager, Southern Region, Tata Motors, who presided, said that the company made an annual turnover of Rs. 15,000 crores.

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