The Tatas may have still not firmed up the 997-acre Singur land for setting up its factory for the Rs 1-lakh car, but the company is going ahead and setting up the supply chain in place. “We have already appointed vendors for the project. We are crunching our time,” a Tata Motors spokesman told The Indian Express from Mumbai over phone.

He said the cars would roll out of the Singur factory as per schedule in 2008.

“We are finalising appointments for vendors and are carrying out different surveys,” he said without giving details. “At least 50 vendors have been appointed for supplying components and sub-assemblies to the small car,” he said.

Tata Motors also made it clear that they had not set any deadline for getting possession of the land. “We expect it in a very short time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the company has taken the first step towards empowering local youth in West Bengal. “The initiative for training has already begun and 21 ITI-trained youth from Beraberi, Gopalnagar and Khaserbheri mouzas have appeared for a technical test that was held over one-and-a-half hours at West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation’s Singur camp office on December 25. Examinees who qualify the written test and who meet the necessary criteria will be sent by Tata Motors to its plants for upgrading their technical skills,” he said.

They will be trained for six months.

“Tata Motors will also hold further written tests for ITI-trained local youth who register their names subsequently at the WBIDC camp office, and will hold aptitude tests for individuals with other educational qualifications like from ‘Primary to Madhyamik’ and ‘Madhyamik +’ in due course and arrange suitable training courses,” he added.