Dunlop's Ambattur plant to re-open on Monday

After nearly five years of uncertainty Dunlop India's [ Images ] plant at Ambattur near Chennai would re-open on Monday with 1000 workers scheduled to join work under a new management headed by Pawan Kumar Ruia.

A spokesman of Dunlop India said that as agreed earlier 1000 workers would join the Ambattur plant to start the maintenance work to bring it to operational level.

Ambattur plant is in a much better shape than Shahgunj in West Bengal [ Images ] and, "at best it would take three months to start production," he said.

"The company has a target of achieving 130 tonne per day production once the plant becomes operational," he said.

Asked about the agreement with the employees, he said all issues have been sorted out at Ambattur and negotiations with workers' union at Shahgunj was going on.

He hoped all pending issues would be sorted out soon to pave the way for opening of Dunlop's second plant as well.

The Ambattur plant closed down in 2001 when the Dunlop India became sick under the Manu Chhabria led management.

Dunlop's revival prospects brightened when Ruia bought the entire tyre business of the Chhabria family controlled Jumbo Group of Dubai [ Images ] in December last year for Rs 200 crores (Rs 2 billion).