Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112661120300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Stone to be laid for BEL unit

Staff Reporter

Kochi: The foundation stone for the product support centre by Navratna defence public sector unit Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at Kinfra Hi-tech Park at Kalamassery will be laid by Defence Minister A. K. Antony at a function on Wednesday.

The function will be presided over by Elamaram Karim, Minister for Industries and Commerce. S. Sarma, Minister for Fisheries and Registration and Oommen Chandy, Leader of the Opposition will be the guests of honour. Kinfra has agreed to provide 6.2 acres of land to BEL on lease for 90 years and the agreement will be inked at the function.

The facility will help BEL address the product support activities for the Indian Navy, the National Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) with which it has been collaborating for years in areas of sonar and underwater systems and the Kochi Shipyard. It will also help the PSU work closely with its outsourcing partner Keltron.

It will be a real boost for the carrier project as BEL would supply radars, communication systems, electronic warfare systems, fire control systems and combat management systems for the indigenous aircraft carrier, which is under construction at the shipyard. The facility will have electronic maintenance labs and repair centres.