Barrackpore (WB). July 16, 2006 (Zee News)

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the centre is examining a proposal by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to set up a manufacturing unit for helicpoters here and he has agreed to it in principle.

HAL`s Barrackpore unit has the expertise and capability for making Cheetah, Chetak and advanced light helicopters used by the defence services, he said after visiting servicing and component manufacturing units.

"We have been able to overcome the technical defects of the advanced light helicopter. However, we welcome private participation in different defence requirements," Mukherjee said.

The government, in its bid to make the defence sector self sufficient, would develop and modernise ordnance factories. The eight state-run defence manufacturing units were profit-making and their working is reviewed from time to time to find out how much they helped in attaining self sufficiency.

This also led to competition among the companies in respect of their production.

HAL Managing Director A K Saxena said the facility at Barrackpore is being expanded and there are plans to take up the assembly of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters using components supplied by the company's helicopter division from 2007-8. Thereafter, it would take to manufacturing helicopter components.

The Barrackpore facility was set up in 1940 and has serviced various helicopters, Dakota and AN-32 planes since then. It services Chetak and Cheetah helicopters now, officials said.

It is the only unit of its kind in the eastern part of the country.