■ The Ashok Leyland plant, spread over 75 acres with 40 acres developed for operations, is capable of producing 4,800 buses annually

■ The facility will manufacture BSVI model buses and electric vehicle bodies

■ The first phase will generate 600 jobs, while the second phase will employ an additional 1,200 people

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Nara Lokesh emphasized during the inauguration of the Ashok Leyland plant at Malavalli Model Industrial Park near Vijayawada. Lokesh inaugurated the Ashok Leyland facility by arriving in a double-decker bus manufactured by the company. He planted a sapling on the premises before officially launching the plant and flagging off a fleet of MSRTC buses produced at the facility.

The Minister recalled his promise made during his padayatra in August 2023 to bring Ashok Leyland back to Andhra Pradesh. He commended the Hinduja Group and Ashok Leyland executives for their commitment. Lokesh emphasized the state’s ambitious goal of creating 2 million jobs over five years, highlighting that for every direct job created, four indirect jobs would also be generated, thereby accelerating the state's economic growth.

The Ashok Leyland plant, spread over 75 acres with 40 acres developed for operations, is capable of producing 4,800 buses annually. The first phase will generate 600 jobs, while the second phase will employ an additional 1,200 people, significantly boosting local economic activity. The facility will manufacture BSVI model buses and electric vehicle bodies.

Lokesh expressed gratitude to the Hinduja Group leadership, including Ashok Hinduja, Dheeraj Hinduja, Shenu Aggarwal, and Ganesh Mani, for their support and faith in Andhra Pradesh. He assured investors that incentives will be transferred directly via escrow accounts, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles.

“The industrial resurgence of Andhra Pradesh is not just a revival; it’s a statement to the world that we are open for business and committed to progress,” Lokesh declared. The event was attended by Ministers TG Bharat and Kollu Ravindra, Collector DK Balaji, APIIC Chairman Ramaraju, Managing Director Abhishek, RTC MD Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, MLA Yarlagadda Venkatrao, and senior executives from Ashok Leyland and Hinduja Group.