Defence manufacturing unit by UK-based company to kickstart Tata Steel Gopalpur SEZ

Tata Steel's proposed SEZ and Industrial Park at Gopalpur in south Odisha is poised to take off on Wednesday with the ground breaking ceremony for a defence equipment unit by Meggit Corporation of the UK at the location.

Meggit Corporation is setting up an assembly facility for air defence target system at Gopalpur in association with its Indian partner Sure Safety Solution.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 50 crore, is being set up under the 'Make In India' programme of the India government, one of whose objective is to manufacture various defense equipment within the country.

The project will come up in an air-conditioned shed on 5 acres of land within the Tata Steel Industrial Park and start production from January, 2016.

"We have a big responsibility to provide the company all facilities (including building of the shed) so that the project becomes production worthy in two months' time", said Arun Mishra, MD, Tata Steel Gopalpur SEZ.

He hoped establishment of the defence equipment unit at Gopapur by the UK based company would attract other similar investors, particularly from Europe and South East Asia, to the area. "We plan to develop this SEZ and Industrial Park as a defence and electronics hub," he added.

It may be noted Gopalpur already has India Army Air Defence College in its vicinity which will come in handy to test the defence equipment.

Tata Steel had acquired 2,970 acres in mid-1990s to set up a shore-based steel plant at Gopalpur. But it had later shelved the plan and decided to set up a SEZ and Industrial Park there. However, due to delay in transfer of land tittle to its name and formulation of state SEZ policy, the notification of SEZ has been hanging fire for last few years.

Recently the Odisha government had formulated its own SEZ policy while the state owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has registered 1,235 acres of land, where the SEZ will come up, at Gopalpur in favour of Tata Steel removing these bottlenecks. "We hope the SEZ notification to be issued around first week of December," Mishra said.

He said, pending the notification, Meggit Corporation has been provided land outside the SEZ earmarked area, which comprises the Industrial Park. After the notification, if they want they can shift to the SEZ area, he added.

Among others the ground breaking ceremony for air defence target system unit will be attended by MD of Meggit Corporation and Peter Longstaff and Odisha industry minister, Debi Prasad Mishra.