Padma Shri Kalpana Saroj is known as the original ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Born in the Dalit family in the city of Murtijarpur from Akola District, the story is a bride who lives in the slums of Mumbai being a business tycoon.
Saroj won the headlines after taking over Kamani Tubes Limited, a company that was originally founded by Freedom Fighter and Industrialist Ramji Kamani.
The company was scheduled for liquidation when Saroj stepped in and revived.
Now, he plans a flight business in Nagpur through Kalpana Saroj Global Aviation Limited, a subsidiary that is fully owned by Kamani tube.
Starting with one hectare, the company has a larger plan.
Quotes …
Q.
How do you plan diversity into flight? A.
I was thinking about these lines for four to five years and have built a team of technical experts consisting of professional retirees from Air India.
They specialize in aircraft maintenance and related fields.
I always want to contribute to the development of Vidarbha by creating jobs.
Finally, the Kalpana Saroj Global Aviation Private Limited company was formed about a year ago.
Q.
It is known that you finally planned the RS4,000 Crore project.
How do you do it? A.
Initially, we had planned to take 30 hectares in Mihan.
The plan was distributed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who immediately wrote to the Maharashtra government recommending this case.
Then, we decided to start with a machine hospital or bay machine, facilities that would maintain aircraft engines.
There is an extraordinary scope for such facilities in the country’s airport.
There may be other arrangements too but the demand is far more and the airline must bring aircraft abroad for maintenance.
Having a Gulf Engine here will also save foreign exchange.
Q.
What is the next plan? A.
We want to step by step, which includes the forging JVS.
There are plans to start a flight school in Nagpur.
My own son must go to Germany for pilot training and finally spend as much as Rs60 lakh in the field.
If there is a full-flying school here, it will not only provide opportunities for local youth but also save foreign exchange.
Q.
Is the first subsidiary company from Tube Kamani which is now led by you? A.
Yes, this is a subsidiary of Kamani tube.
Q.
How do you plan to fund the project.
Will funds also come from Kamani tube? A.
Initially, huh.
The initial number is not much.
Funds will be arranged as and when the plan must be implemented.
Different sources will be explored.
We can also collect funds from the market, if needed.
There are plans to start the first phase without wasting time.
Already, Covid has taken victims of work.
The company’s main focus is to create jobs, profits comes later.