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BENGALURU: Bidarehalla Kaval, a small village in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, will soon transform into a township buzzing with activity as work on the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Helicopter Complex there is likely to start soon.
The PSU will make an initial investment of `500 crore on the unit that will manufacture components for Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv.
“The groundbreaking ceremony will take place soon. This year, HAL is celebrating its 75th year and starting work on the new project will be one of the major events this year,” HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju told Express. “We are looking at an initial investment of `500 crore and will enhance it gradually. The unit will be operational by 2017-18,” he said.
The state government, he said, has been proactive in providing the PSU with necessary assistance. Cases related to land have been cleared and the government also recently took a decision to shift High Tension (HT) lines passing over the land. “We are sorting out minor issues related to connectivity and once that is done, the work will start,” he said.
The PSU recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Karnataka Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation for the construction of a compound wall around the 600 acre plot.
Once operational, the helicopter unit will spur economic activities in and around Gubbi and also generate employment for locals. “It will be a huge facility that will house helicopter manufacturing systems, assembly hangars, composites and component manufacturing factories and engine component manufacturing units. Locals will be given jobs as per government norms,” the CMD said.
HAL is looking at manufacturing around 120 helicopters every year. “Space at the existing plant where we are doing research and development, production, maintenance and overhaul of helicopters is saturated. We need to expand to create at least 60 LUHs, 30 LCHs and 30 ALHs per year. This is the anticipated production rate for expected and projected demand. This requires a new complex,” he said.
