Aircraft component manufacturers make beeline to Bangalore

Even before the proposed international airport could become functional at Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bangalore, a number of aircraft component manufacturers are making a beeline to the City to set up shop.

Karnataka’s Industries Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu told reporters that a total of eight companies had come forward to set up units in Bangalore to manufacture components for aircrafts. “We have received proposals with a total investment of Rs 60 billion from five Indian companies and three foreign companies”, he said.

The foreign companies planning to set up aircraft components manufacturing unit in Bangalore include one each from Austrialia and US, he said.

In view of the interest shown in setting up aircraft component manufacturing units, the State Government has decided to develop an aircraft industrial hub over an area spread across 1,200 acres near the international airport at Devanahalli, Naidu said.

The Government had already identified land for the purpose. Once established, the aircraft industrial hub will house the large scale component manufacturing units, which will be provide jobs to thousands of people in the State, he added.

Meanwhile, work on construction of the international airport was continuing at a brisk pace and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) authorities are hopeful that the flights will become operational by 2008.