Ottappalam to have India's first defence industrial park.

In a major fillip to industrial infrastructure in the Palakkad region, the Union government's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has approved a proposal from the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) to set up the country’s first defence industrial park at Ottappalam.

The proposed park, which will be established as part of the Make in India, Make in Kerala project, will have modern common infrastructure facilities aimed at attracting component manufacturers in the defence industry. The Union government has agreed to bring it under the Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIIUS).

Talking to The Hindu, Kinfra managing director G.C. Gopala Pillai said the park would be established soon as the corporation gets 60 acres of land for the purpose. The total expenditure for the defence park is estimated at Rs.231.25 crore. Kinfra will invest Rs.181.35 crore, while the rest of the amount is being expected as grant from the Union government.

THE HINDU