Making of Nano: A chronology
Updated on
Monday, March 23, 2009, 00:00
IST
New Delhi, March 23: From drawing board to Singur and
to Sanand before hitting the showrooms, it has been quite a
journey for Tata Motors' Nano, the world's cheapest car.
Here's how the Rs one lakh car was born.
March 2003: Ratan Tata discloses plans to launch the
world's cheapest car at Rs 1 lakh at Geneva Motor Show.
May 2006: Tata Motors announces setting up Nano
manufacturing unit at Singur in West Bengal with initial
investment of Rs 1000 crore spread over 700 acres; scaled up
to 1,000 acres with total investment of Rs 1,500 crore.
Oct 2006: Trinamool Congress opposes Tata Motors' plans
to set up factory at Singur, calls 12-hour state-wide bandh
alleging forcible acquisition of farmers' land.
Dec 2006: Violence mars Singur, five hurt in rubber-
bullet firing. Mamata Banerjee goes on indefinite hunger
strike, which was called off after 25 days following appeals
from the Prime Minister and the President.
Jan 2007: Land puja offered at Singur car project site
Feb 2007: Police-mob clash at Singur.
March 2007: WBIDC signs a 90-year agreement with Tata
Motors for Nano plant; farmer commits suicide; Mob attacks
proposed site; bomb explosion damages fencing.
May 2007: Peace talks between state government and
Trinamool Congress fail; one more farmer commits suicide.
June 2007: CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu echoes Mamata
Banerjee's demand that only 600 acres is required for the
Singur project instead of 1,000 acres, but state government
rules out returning Singur project land to farmers.
Nov 2007: Central forces deployed at Singur after
fresh protests.
Jan 2008: Ratan Tata unveils Nano at Auto Expo in
Delhi; Calcutta High Court orders Singur land acquisition
legal.
Mar 2008: Nano showcased at Geneva Motor Show
May 2008: Supreme Court refuses to stay Nano roll-out
from Singur.
June 2008: Singur protesters break factory gate.
Aug 2008: Talks between West Bengal Chief Minister
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mamata Banerjee, who demanded
return of 400 acres to farmers, fail. Subsequently, Ratan Tata
threatens to exit from Singur. It was followed by Trinamool
Congress' indefinite dharna. Factory workers stay away from
work after assault.
Sept 2008: WB Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi intervenes.
Agreement signed between state government and Trinamool
Congress but it is shortlived. Mamata Banerjee holds rally
demanding return of 300 acres of land. Security guards at
Singur factory attacked.
Oct 2008: Ratan Tata formally announces pulling out of
Nano plant from Singur and days later declares Sanand at
Gujarat as the new manufacturing location for Nano at an
investment of Rs 2,000 crore.
Feb 2009: Tata Motors announces launch date of Nano to
be March 23.
March 2009: Ratan Tata unveils European version of Nano
with added features and complying with Euro V emission norms
at the Geneva Motor Show; Nano makes commercial debut.
Bureau Report