New Delhi, Jan. 1 -- In a landmark initiative, over 1.25 lakh hectares of rubber plantations have been developed across Northeast India and West Bengal under the ambitious INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA).

Spearheaded by four leading tyre companies-Apollo Tyres, CEAT, JK Tyre, and MRF-the project represents a concerted effort to bolster India's natural rubber sector.

Launched with a budget of Rs 1,100 crore, INROAD aims to establish two lakh hectares of rubber plantations over five years in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and West Bengal.

In its first four years, the project has already...