Ahead Of Modi Rally, Himachal May Lose Rs 2,000-Crore Investments

| Updated: 23 December, 2021 6:01 pm IST
Investors Meet, Dharmshala in 2019
Representative Image (Photo: Investors' Meet, Dharamshala in 2019)

SHIMLA: Even as the state prepares for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mandi district for the laying of foundation stones for various investments that are coming to the state, there are strong rumours that the state may just lose investments to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore promised to the Himachal Pradesh government.

There is a strong possibility that UK-based global conglomerate SRAM & MRAM Group that had signed an historic agreement with Himachal Pradesh government to set up an EV bus manufacturing unit may step back.

SRAM & MRAM Group, a billion dollar conglomerate in association with CSEPEL Holding Nyrt, Hungary, had planned to set up a manufacturing plant in the state to produce at least 8000 buses per annum.

But well placed sources told The New Indian that this was subject to the condition that the Himachal Pradesh government would purchase a minimum number of buses from them to which the government has refused.

With this electric bus manufacturing plant, the state aimed to create 3,000 jobs. But now the project itself is surrounded by uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mandi in the state on December 27 to lay the foundation stone for projects and schemes worth Rs 11,500 crore. The PM will be the main speaker at the function being held at Paddal Ground in Mandi to commemorate four years of the BJP government in Himachal. The event is expected to be a show of strength for the state BJP, which had suffered a 4-0 setback in the recent bypolls.

In another news, Himachal Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur fainted at the Bijani rest house in Mandi on Wednesday, following which he was rushed to nearby zonal hospital and then to the medical college at Nerchowk for special care. Thakur was scheduled to meet BJP office-bearers at the rest house amid preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s December 27 visit to the state.

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