Ashok Leyland resumes bus manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh

Ashok Leyland has reopened its bus manufacturing plant in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, after a five-year shutdown. The move follows discussions between Nara Lokesh and top officials of the Hinduja Group, which owns Ashok Leyland. Lokesh assured government support for the plant in exchange for job creation in the local area. The facility, which was initially launched in 2018, was left incomplete due to various issues. In late 2024, after the NDA government took office, Lokesh, who is the minister for ITE&C and HRD, initiated a review of stalled projects in the state. Learning about the bus plant's status, he reached out to the Hinduja Group for a meeting. In December 2024, Lokesh met with top Hinduja executives over breakfast in Hyderabad. He detailed the government's priorities and promised full support for the manufacturer's needs, provided they create job opportunities for local residents. Following the meeting, Lokesh formed a task force to handle local land and infrastructure challenges to ensure that operations could resume quickly. On March 19, 2025, the plant was officially reopened in a ceremony attended by the Hinduja family. Ashok Hinduja mentioned plans for further investments in Andhra Pradesh in sectors like mobility and financial services. He praised Nara Lokesh's father, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for making the state a leader in technology.