Lokesh convinced Hindujas to restart bus manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: It is rare for a company like Ashok Leyland, the second largest bus maker in India and fifth largest in the world, to announce an investment project and go back after completion of more than 60% of the work.
The company abandoned its bus manufacturing facility in the midst for five years between 2019-24, that was started in the year 2018 at Mallavalli industrial park near Vijayawada.
However, a breakfast meeting of Nara Lokesh with the top echelons of flagship Hinduja Group, changed all and made the top bus maker to return to Andhra Pradesh and start production within 90 days.
After NDA govt came to power in 2024, the minister for ITE&C and HRD, who is also the chairman of the cabinet committee on job creation, started reviewing all the stalled projects in the state.
After knowing about the status of bus manufacturing plant, he approached Hinduja Group, which owned Ashok Leyland and invited its top brass for a meeting. On December 22, 2024, Lokesh met Ashok P Hinduja, chairman of Hinduja India, Dheeraj G Hinduja, chairman of Ashok Leyland and RV Choudhary, advisor Hinduja Group for breakfast at his residence in Hyderabad.
Lokesh explained the priorities of the NDA govt and offered them complete support. Revealing what he has promised to Hundujas in the recently held inauguration ceremony, Lokesh said that he has given a white paper to be filled by the company of its requirements and consider it as done. Lokesh said that the only condition he has put to the company is to create job opportunities to the local youth.
After getting a positive signal from the Hindujas, Lokesh set up a taskforce to resolve all local land and infrastructural issues and promised that everything will be done within three months. The local TDP MLA, Yarlagadda Venkat Rao, who made an election promise that he will bring back Ashok Leyland, followed it up with officials for smooth execution of works.
On March 19, the bus manufacturing facility was inaugurated by Lokesh in the presence of Hinduja family. Ashok Hinduja even announced that they are now looking forward to expanding their investments in Andhra Pradesh in the fields of mobility, power, and other services like BFSI. He lauded Naidu saying as the architect of the first technology governed state in India.