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What
more could you ask from a boom town ?
Vapi used to be a little town content sitting in the gentle undulations of the western
coastal region in Gujarat state of India, the sky here was clear blue.
The sub burnt bright. The hills were green. And the woods were dark. Out of then flowed a
generous river looking for he sea barely a few miles away. A national highway and a
railway track ran parallel to the coast : Every is still the same Vapi – It has today
become one of the most ambitious town in India. Everbody calls it the new boom town. Vapi
has become a nerve centre of industrial and business activity using new technology, new
management and new work styles. The new change has brought with it new life styles too.
Today Vapi is high on the list upwardly mobile elite for starting an industry, for opening
a business, for setting down.
Vapi’s people used to be gentle folk going about their calling quietly. They are
still there. But there are new people in the town now – the executives, the
businessmen, the technocrats, the bureaucrats.
GIDC can cape town’s the population is more than 50,000. The people are mostly
engaged in business though there is a growing presence of doctors, lawyers, accountants,
technicians, architects, designer, teachers, consultants, estate agents, transporters,
decorators, fabricators, printers, skilled labour and other swallows of the new summer.
Vapi has English and Gujarati schools with over 7500 students. It has industrial and
commercial training institutes which supply skilled manpower to factories and offices. A
computer education centre has begun offering computer courses too.
Vapi has 9 hospitals including 1 for children. A public hospital is taking shape. Haria
Hospital has all major facilities, well equipped ICUs, Brain Scanner, ambulance and other
medicare services.
The shops have already begun to sport the gloss of glass and the gleam of chrome. All
modern daily requirements – electric and electronic appliances, packaged foods,
readywear clothes, house fittings, newspapers and magazines, books, car servicing
household repairs and maintenance – are available in ships on main streets and in
shopping centre I residential areas. Air-conditioned restaurants offer vegetarian and
non-vegetarian food of South Indian, Gujarati, Punjabi, Moghlai, Chinese and Continental
variety. Though Gujarat has prohibition in force, liquor permits can be obtained.
Of the three hotels in Vapi, Kamat’s Vapi Hotel is 3 starred. It is getting ready
with speciality restaurants. 24-hour coffee shop, wine shop and swimming pool. It will
have a health club with steam bath, sauna bath, gymnasium, card room, tennis. Also a
playroom for children with crazy mirrors, slot machines, popcorn stations ad video-games
– all linked with a power - run mini – train.
Vapi has nine clubs – Lions, Lioness, Leo, Rotary, Roteract,
Jayacees, Jayceeratte,
Inner Wheel and Interact Plus the Vapi Industrial Association. Some of the clubs offer
sports facilities.
Vapi has four cinemas and two video theatre with a total capacity of over 3200. It has a
public library, a Lion club library and several lending libraries. A Gujarati newspaper is
published locally to serve town interest. Vapi has its share of playgrounds, gardens and
places of worship.
Vapi has one of the largest industrial complexes in India. Eight more such complexes are
around it within an hour’s drive. Plots and shed are easily obtained. Finances are
supplied by banks and industrial development corporations on attractive terms. Research
and project consultancies are readily available. Skilled and unskilled labour is plentiful
and cheap. Al-time water and power supply is assured Ancillary industry is well grown.
Workshops offer maintenance and repairs all over.
Almost all nationalised banks and many banks in the co-operative sector have office sin
Vapi. Vapi Industrial associations has a cell offering help to new entrepreneurs.
Vapi has excellent telephone, telex and teleprinter connections with the country and the
world. All-Weather national and state highways link it with Bombay, Bhavnagar and
Surat.
Flights operate from Daman airport, 12 kms away Luxury coaches, Rickshaws taxis and
rentals cars are available at any time.
Vapi is surrounded by green forests dotted with pretty hills and
criss-crossed by rivers
and streams. Tribal village lend a gaiety that is intoxicating. Several gardens, lakes,
riverside parks, hills stations, beach stations, old forests, religious places are within
a day’s outing. Many of these places have good stay and food facilities.
A three-star riverside Ras Resort wit 5 –star facilities is already started at
Silvassa 8 kms away. It has 60 rooms with air conditioning. 3- channel music and video
sets. The resorts has restaurants, bar coffeeshop, banquetting and
conference facilities,
shopping parlour, health club and swimming pool with barbeque. On the side riverfront will
be offered fishing, boating, waterscootering and other games. A mini-golf course and
jogging trails will be added attractions.
Vapi has three seasons summer from March to June, monsoon from June to September, and
winter from October to February. The average daily temperature in summer can be 30 degree
celcius and the minimum temperature in winter can be 24 degree
celcius. The average annual
rainfall in 80 inches.
The air is fresh and invigorating. Pollution is non-existent. Water is abundant. Vegetable
and fruits are available round the year. Various religious and cultural occasions are
celebrated with enthusiasm. Communal tensions are nil. Labour scene is peaceful. Crime is
much below the state average.
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