2024-09-06 22:18:33
BangaloreTata Group’s aviation company Air India has announced to build a mega MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft maintenance in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru. The company announced this on Wednesday. Once it is built, it will help in creating a strong self-reliant aviation eco-system in India.
Where will the MRO facility be built
This Air India facility is being built at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The company said in a statement that the facility will be developed on about 35 acres of land. It will become an important hub for the Tata Group-owned carrier’s aircraft maintenance operations, as the airline is modernizing its fleet and expanding its global operations. It is worth noting that the MRO project is part of the MoU signed by Air India with the Karnataka government in February this year, proposing to invest Rs 1300 crore on the MRO facility. Air India has also signed an agreement with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) to become a strategic partner for the development of this MRO facility.
Groundbreaking ceremony was held
The bhoomipujan ceremony held here on Wednesday was attended by Gunjan Krishna, Industries Commissioner in the Karnataka government, and Hari Marar, MD & CEO of Bangalore International Airport (BIAL), and Chin Yau Seng, CEO of SIA Engineering Company, among others. Speaking on the occasion, Gunjan Krishna said that it is heartening to see the quick progress made by Air India in starting work for MRO. This is a milestone not only for the Indian aviation industry, which is growing rapidly, but also for the state of Karnataka, which is playing a leading role in the aviation sector with Bengaluru emerging as an important global aviation hub in the coming years.
More than 1200 people will get employment
This MRO facility is expected to create over 1,200 new employment opportunities for skilled aviation engineers in India. Not only this, more than 200 SMEs will be supported in Karnataka through an expanded supply chain. These new ventures are expected to create further employment opportunities while strengthening the MRO ecosystem in the state. The MRO will also support Air India’s plans to make Bengaluru one of its major hubs, increasing direct connectivity to global destinations, the Air India statement said.
Wide body aircraft will also be maintained
The proposed MRO will have a mega hangar to house narrow body and wide body aircraft under one roof for base maintenance. The capacity of the facility will be further expanded to include additional hangars for servicing more aircraft, including paint hangars. Equipped with the latest aircraft maintenance technology including overhead tele platforms, cranes, universal docking systems and the largest vertical lift hangar doors in the country, this MRO facility will set a new standard in aviation maintenance at par with any MRO in the world, the statement said. Wide body hangar to be built in Delhi too
Air India also plans to build a new wide body hangar in Delhi to meet line maintenance requirements. This will help in developing a complete maintenance eco-system at all major airports.