Maruti plans Rs2,400-crore R&D centre as strike threat looms

Maruti Suzuki (India) Ltd, India's leading carmaker, is investing up to Rs2,400-crore research and development facility at Rohtak, Haryana amidst rumbling of fresh strike in its Manesar unit.

Haryana chief minister Bhupindersingh Hooda laid the foundation stone for the R&D facility at Rohtak today, in a bid to scale up R&D for research-led growth.

The R&D centre at Rohtak is intended to be an integrated facility for vehicle testing and evaluation, which is crucial to the development of new cars.

Meanwhile, members of the newly-recognised workers' union at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant are understood to have demanded a five-fold hike in their basic salaries, ahead of the scheduled wage negotiations with the management.

The Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU) is reported to have approached the management with a list of over 20 demands for finalising a three-year wage settlement agreement.

They have sought linking of dearness allowance to basic pay instead of the fixed amount being given currently. Besides, they are also understood to have demanded conveyance service within 100 km distance from the plant and help in getting affordable accommodation as also an increase in the number of days of privilege and casual leave.