Summary: If you wish to know the place that provides more employment opportunities for automobile field in Vijayawada and nearby cities, it is the Jawahar Autonagar.
Autonagar is the short form for the Jawaharlal Nehru Auto Nagar Industrial Estate. This is an industrial estate that is situated on the Eastern side of the city of Vijayawada. This industrial estate holds the pride of being one of the largest hubs for auto industry in the whole of Asia. It was established in the year 1966 and it is also the former united AP’s first Autonagar. This place is actually a cluster of service activities that are served with a view to help the automobile industry.
Development of Autonagar:
This place holds the pride of being the first of its kind in the entire country. Yes, it is exclusively meant for automobile servicing niche. The foundation for the estate was laid by Smt. Indira Gandhi, who was the PM of the nation during that period and the inauguration was done by Mr. Morarji Desai, who was the Prime Minister during the inaugural period.
During the period 1967 to 1975, many automobile servicing units in Vijayawada were shifted to Autonagar by the APSRTC, Police Department and municipal authorities. The reason is that the Reserve Bank of India agreed to offer credit facilities to the units functioning in Autonagar following the request made by Industries Association Discussions at Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).
In the year 1963, land for the development of Autonagar was acquired. This was done adjacent to the industrial estate that was planned earlier. By the end of the year 1964, the construction of the initial batch of sheds for auto servicing was completed. However, there was a time gap of three years after the establishment of the estate and the starting of production at the first unit in this industrial estate.
Trades in Autonagar:
The important activities performed by the industries located in the estate include:
- Clutch and break servicing
- Servicing of radiators
- Vulcanizing
- Retreading of tyres
- Automobile Body building works
- Electrical works
- Upholstery
- Blacksmith work
- Tinkering
- Carpentry
- Painting
Many engineering and mechanical workshops are functioning within this huge industrial estate that sprawls around an area of 276 acres of land.
Even though, initially, many automobile units functioning in different parts of Vijayawada were brought into the industrial unit, in the later stages, many new units were also established.
How about the land area?
As mentioned earlier, Autonagar is spread over an area of 276 acres and it was developed close to the industrial estate that was promoted earlier and had just 54 acres of land. Out of the total acres, 117 acres are reserved for common facilities and services, while 159 acres are the net usable area for servicing/manufacturing of automobiles. The common areas include banks, open spaces, common centres for facilities to employees, roads and other organizations.
There are three phases in Autonagar, where in the first and second are used by automobile servicing units, while third phase is for manufacturing units. Earlier, some portion of land was reserved for green belt, but some of them were used for construction of factory sheds due to the increasing demand among automobile industries. On a portion of land that was used as common area, electrical installations were done. Likewise, banks, postal and telephone departments were offered some areas for establishing their facilities. Automobile Technicians Association for the construction of office complex and auditorium used around 1000 square yard plot.
Maintenance:
After the construction of Autonagar, maintenance of different common services was handed over to the APIIC for many years. Then, from the year 1995, the management was taken over by the Estate Association. As against Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, APIIC functions as the local authority and the management of facilities in Autonagar are taken care by the Industrial Area Service Society (IASS), which is otherwise called as IALA or Industrial Area Local Authority.
Responsibilities of the service society:
The service society is responsible for collection of taxes from industrial units on a yearly basis. From the income generated through taxes by the society, 30% is paid to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation. This is done as a part of social responsibility to the corporation. The remaining amount is used by the IASS for maintenance of services in the part of Vijayawada by getting the works done through contracts and from concerned government organizations.
What happened to the lands in Autonagar initially?
During the initial stages (i.e.) from the year 1967 to 1975, the plots were allotted to all the business owners, who showed their interest to setup their units in Autonagar. This was done with a view to quicken the occupation of plots and development within a short period. Initially, as the demand for plots were low, all those, who approached for acquiring a space, regardless of whether they had the idea of what trade they are going to do, were allotted the requested space. This made many entrepreneurs, who rightly judged the development of Autonagar as an industrial estate to take advantage of the situation. But, when many automobile servicing units, were forcefully shifted to autonagar, it became an area of great demand.
Furthermore, the announcement of the growth of transport industry in the coastal part of AP gave a stimulus to the demand and so the Industries Department of AP sold the lands on an outright basis. Then, in the year 1973, the development of Autonagar, came to the hands of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, which was established during that period. The zonal office of this corporation is located in Autonagar itself.
Purpose of Autonagar:
This place was actually conceived as a project of self-help for auto technicians, such that they can turn plans for the availability of other services required for service of heavy vehicles. Over the years, entrepreneurs, who purchased lands in the initial stages, let out their space on rental basis. Some plots were allotted for sales shops for sale of engine oil, spare parts and for lathe machine workshop, etc. Then, during a field study, those units functioning under rental basis were categorized separately. Then, hotels and other services to serve the employees came into the industrial area.
Now, Autonagar provides a wide range of employment opportunities, not just for people in Vijayawada, but also for those from nearby cities as well.
