The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) will set up a ₹200 crore aerospace technology centre at Oragadam, near Chennai , according to SM Jamkhandi, Director, MSME Development Institute, Chennai.

The Ministry has sought 20 acres of land from the Tamil Nadu government to build the centre, he told BusinessLine .

It will be one of the four such centres, each with its own area of specialisation. The other centres will come up in Bengaluru, Puducherry and Biwandi (in Gujarat). The Oragadam centre will focus on aerospace components and electronics as there are a large number automobile component and electronics manufacturing units in the vicinity. Aerospace will be an extension, he said.

Integrated park

Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) is planning an integrated aerospace park project in Sriperumbudur.

This park will cover design, engineering, manufacturing, servicing and maintenance of aircrafts.

A feasibility report for the project has also been prepared. The research centre, that the MSME Ministry plans to set up, will also offer assistance to companies that come up in the park where nearly 100-150 units have shown interest to set up their operations, Jamkhandi said.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans for a 300-acre aerospace component manufacturing park for which SIPCOT is acquiring land.

A maintenance, repair and overhaul facility adjoining the Chennai airport is also being planned.

An integrated ecosystem is required to design, manufacture and maintain all types of aircrafts for both civilian and defence needs.

This needs to be developed in phases in multiple locations, including Sriperumpudur, and Meenambakkam and Hosur. The ecosystem will create direct and indirect employment for around 1 lakh highly skilled resources and will attract an investment of $10 billion, sources said.

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