Nearly seven months after inauguration by PM Modi, grand plans have barely taken shape — hardly any offices have opened & many players who had left Mumbai for Surat have gone back.
Modi also inaugurated new terminal at Surat airport which will cater to additional load of 1,200 domestic passengers and 600 international passengers during peak hours.
Till now, Surat has been the diamond manufacturing hub & Mumbai the export base. However, Gujarat's ease of doing business & lower costs, could make Surat Diamond Bourse a hub for both.
At least eight diamond workers in Surat have died by suicide in the past three months with about 15,000 laid off while the industry's losses have increased from 1% to 15-20% annually in the last five years.
Surat Diamond Bourse, currently under construction, is expected to open in 3 or 4 months. It is expected to house nearly 4,400 merchants and employ about 1.5 lakh people.
Hyundai was never scared of rivals overtaking them last year. But in 2027, the mythical ‘Creta Killer’ may finally emerge. Or it could continue to remain a myth.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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