Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, along with Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, laid the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art greenfield Defence Integration Systems Complex of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at Palasamudram village of Gorantla mandal in Anantapur district on Wednesday. The project aims at production and assembly of the Aakash missile system.
The facility, which is around 90 km from the Bengaluru International Airport, will be the first of its kind in the country featuring advanced systems such as automated-guided vehicles and industrial robots.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Parrikar said the facility would be a significant component of the Centre’s ambitious ‘Make In India’ programme as well as the Military Industrial Complex project.
The facility, which is expected to be completed in three years at an envisaged investment of Rs. 500 crore, will be a self-sufficient entity with its own power source via a solar power plant, besides featuring state-of-the-art assembly hangars, hard stands for radars and weapon integration and missile storage buildings.
“The location is ideal for missile development, production, assembly and testing, as it is close to Bengaluru,” Mr. Parrikar said.
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre was keen on implementing the promises made to the State. “We are being asked as to what we have done. Two months ago, we laid the foundation for the construction of the National Academy of Customs Excise & Narcotics (NACEN) and now a BEL factory,” he said. “Many more [institutions] will follow,” Mr. Naidu said.
On the Railway Board Chairman being opposed to a railway zone for Visakhapatnam, Mr. Naidu said the government was looking into the matter.
“Special category status for AP is under the consideration of the NITI Aayog. The government will take a decision once a report is submitted to it,” he added.
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdhary were present.
