Russian delegation meets Fadnavis

NAGPUR: A Russian delegation met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur on Friday and expressed its interest in setting up a unit in Multi-model International

NAGPUR: A Russian delegation met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur on Friday and expressed its interest in setting up a unit in Multi-model International Cargo Hub and Airport, Nagpur (MIHAN) for repairing and maintaining the Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters.

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The maximum numbers of aircraft that the Indian Air Force has are made in Russia and Nagpur is the national headquarters of Indian Air force maintenance command.

A 14-member delegation led by minister of trade and industry of Russia, Denis Manturov visited MIHAN on Friday evening, following the invitation extended by the chief minister Fadnavis, and checked the facilities and infrastructure available at the project developed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC). A presentation about MIHAN project was also made before the Russian delegation.

The MADC spokesman quoted Manturov as saying Russia was “looking forward to invest in India in collaboration with the Central government, especially in manufacturing spare parts of aircraft and making defence planes”.

According to sources, the Russian minister found Nagpur an ideal location for such units and said his government was keen to investment in them.

Manturov also said that he would encourage Russian companies to invest in MIHAN.

Later, the chief minister told the Russian minister that there was a need to set up of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit with the support of Russian government in MIHAN for the aircrafts bought from the Russia. The chief minister is expected to meet the Defence minister Manohar Parrikar soon to get the necessary permissions and clearances required for the MRO project.

Representatives from Russian manufacturing companies would also be invited for the meeting, claimed sources. “If the MRO comes into existence, it would solve problems related to procurement of original equipment for a large number of Russian aircraft used by the Indian Air Force that has its maintenance command in Nagpur,” Fadnavis had said.

Also, Manturov added, “If we receive the defence ministry’s cooperation, we will give priority to start the project in MIHAN.”