Domestic firms to be encouraged into defence manufacturing

Shipping minister also confirms plans to widen East Coast Road to give a fillip to industry in Tamil Nadu

The Centre has plans to encourage domestic companies to start manufacturing of defence equipment and over a period of time dependency on imports of such items will be over, Union Minister of State for Surface Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said.

"When that happens, it is likely to open up innumerable opportunities for entrepreneurs," he said at a function here.

He also confirmed plans to widen the East Coast Road (ECR), an initiative that he said was likely to give a fillip to the industry in Tamil Nadu.

The current two-lane road from Chennai to Kanyakumari along the ECR would be converted into a four-lane road, he added.

Radhakrishnan said there was a need to create awareness in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu on the 'Make in India' initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a seminar here last weekend, he stressed the importance of involving rural people in this movement as it will facilitate their joining the mainstream of development.

He also said it was important to leverage opportunities available in solid waste management and was of the view that every waste should be made a raw material for another product.