Aerospace hub coming up in Tamil Nadu

GMR group, India's leading infrastructure company, is setting up an 'Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Hub' at its Special Investment Region (GKSIR), Hosur, Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu.

The group is setting it up with an aim to encourage indigenous production of defence equipment in the country.

The proposed hub is in an ideal location for defence-related manufacturing.

Major defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited and Defence Research and Development Organisation are only 50-60 km away.

The hub also benefits from the established industrial ecosystem in Hosur, 700+ MSMEs engaged in precision engineering in the region.

Proximity to Bangalore ensures ready access to skilled manpower, according to a press statement.

Commenting on the setting up of the hub, B V N Rao, business chairman (transportation & urban infrastructure), GMR Group said, "This defence manufacturing hub can potentially be a game changer for the region. We will be providing all the necessary infrastructure facilities to attract global majors to set up their manufacturing facilities here.

GKSIR (GMR Krishnagiri Special Investment Region) is keen to set an international benchmark. GMR group is a world-renowned infrastructure developer and we already have an excellent track record of creating mega infrastructure projects in India and abroad".

Under the 'Make in India' initiative, the government had recently announced the setting up of a Defence Industrial Production Corridor (DIPC) in Tamil Nadu.

The corridor will connect Hosur and Chennai- with Kattupalli port, Chennai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Hosur as its key nodes - and aims to provide impetus to the defence production industry in the country and in the region in particular.

The proposed defence manufacturing hub at GKSIR, Hosur is a step in making this vision a reality, the statement said.