the goan I network
PANAJI
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to move forward with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL)proposed project of helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), which failed to take off despite its announcement in 2016 as the French company, Safran Helicopter Engines which had agreed to set up this helicopter maintenance plant in Goa backed down from the project.
Now, the Minister of State for Defense Shripad Naik has said that the Defense Ministry will find another partner and revive the project.
Announced by the former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2016, as a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru and France-based Safran Helicopter Engines for helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in Goa, the project was proposed to be set up in the village of Honda in Sattari.
Land for the project has already been acquired.
“The project was announced, but it is yet to take off. I will revive it. If there is any issue with the agreement with the France-based company, then we can have a tie-up with any other similar company after terminating the earlier commitment,”
Naik said.
“The land required for the facility has already been procured and it needs to start immediately...I will have to go through the agreement,” he added.
The facility is expected to have a total investment of Rs 170 crore which will be invested by both the parties in a phased manner.
Incidentally, India is one of the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines.
