The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for HAL’s new Helicopter Manufacturing Facility at Biderehalla Kaval, Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru, about 100 km from Bengaluru recently.

“With this, the small village has come on the world map as it would be manufacturing machines that would protect the country. It is no ordinary facility as the world’s attention would be focused on it. I expect the indigenous helicopter under ‘Make in India’ to fly out by 2018. It is a gift from Government of India to the people of Karnataka, Tumakuru in particular. Nearly 4,000 families, direct or indirect will benefit from this largest ever investment of Rs. 5,000 crore in Tumakuru”, he said.

The Prime Minister hoped that HAL would produce 600 helicopters in 15-year period and India’s defence forces would be the greatest beneficiary of this. “I want companies such as HAL to help the country reduce dependency on overseas suppliers”, he added. Modi congratulated HAL employees, past and present. “I believe that HAL has good manpower and technical know-how to fulfill the future needs”, he added.

The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hoped that HAL will one day transform into a lead integrator and spearhead the development of aerospace ecosystem in India. The Tumakuru facility would meet the country’s massive requirements in the defence sector, he added.

Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka has supported HAL all through since its inception and will continue to support by providing additional land for this project. He said the state is proud to have created conducive nvironment for the aerospace and defence sector with aerospace park at Devanahalli.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju said HAL will continue to play a significant role in realising Prime Minister’s missions like ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’ to achieve self-reliance in the defence sector.