Minister Ajay Bhatt said UP, TN corridors are intended to provide a fillip to strengthening the defence manufacturing ecosystem in India including all States.

NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (The CONNECT) - While Uttar Pradesh is going ahead full steam with its Defence Corridor, an application from Maharashtra for a similar zone is pending with the Centre, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

The Centre, however, reiterated that the two defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are intended to provide a fillip to strengthening the defence manufacturing ecosystem in India including all States.

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply to a question from Sambhaji Chhatrapati did not give details of the request from Maharashtra.

Then Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had requested the Defence Ministry to declare Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway as a defence industry corridor, according to a media story uploaded on the MSRDC web site.

Ajay Bhatt’s response in the Rajya Sabha reads “Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Indian Air Force (IAF), Defence PSUs-Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Naini Aerospace Ltd. during Aero India 2021”.

IAF has signed MoU for indigenization programme. HAL & Naini Aerospace Ltd are to be the Knowledge Partners and also help Defence Corridor in development of Aerospace Units and their supply chain through vendors.

BEML has signed MoU with UPEIDA to establish an MRO facility for specialized vehicles.

During Def Expo-2020 held at Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, a total of 23 MoUs have been signed between UPEIDA and Private Companies. Out of these 23 MoUs, 6 companies namely Anchor Research Labs LLP, P2 Logitech Pvt Ltd., Allen & Alvan Pvt Ltd., Nitya Creations India, Syndicate Innovations International and PBM Insulations Pvt Ltd. have already been allotted and handed over land at Aligarh node, the Minister said.