When PM brought Nano plant to Gujarat after 1 word SMS to Ratan Tata in 2008

A simple SMS from the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the then Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata paved the way for the setting up of the Nano plant in the state in 2008. PM Modi had sent the message – “welcome” – to Ratan Tata when the latter was addressing a press briefing in Kolkata, saying they were leaving Bengal.
“When Ratan Tata said in a press conference in Kolkata that they are leaving West Bengal, I sent him a short SMS saying ‘welcome’. And now you can see what a Re 1 (worth) SMS can do,” then Chief Minister Modi said while inaugurating the Tata Nano plant in Sanand in 2010.
The decision to relocate the project came after intense protests led by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee against land acquisition in Singur. Bengal was ruled by Left Front government at the time by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The protests, which erupted in 2006, created an untenable environment for the Tata Group to establish its production unit for what was touted as the world’s cheapest car.
On October 3, 2008, Ratan Tata announced the withdrawal of the Nano project from Bengal.
The relocation was finalised in a matter of days, with the Gujarat government facilitating the establishment of the Nano plant in Sanand. In 2010, the plant was inaugurated with a substantial investment of Rs 2,000 crore, marking a significant milestone for both the Tata Group and the state of Gujarat.
During the inauguration, Narendra Modi highlighted Gujarat’s commitment to attracting industry, stating, “Many countries were keen to offer all help for the Nano project, but the Gujarat government officers ensured that the project did not go out of India.”
When the first Tata Nano rolled off the production line in June 2010, Ratan Tata expressed gratitude towards the Gujarat government.
He said, “When we searched for another Nano plant, we wanted to move to peace and harmony. Gujarat stood out against all others in guaranteeing us all that we needed. ‘It was not just Tata’s project, it is our project,’ Modi told us. We owe a great lot of gratitude for the support and confidence placed in us.”
Despite its promising start, production of the Tata Nano was discontinued in 2018, closing a significant chapter in the Indian automotive sector.
An industry titan, philanthropist and a national icon Ratan Tata died on Wednesday at the age of 86. He had been undergoing treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital and was said to be in a critical condition.