Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for HAL's new Helicopter Manufacturing Facility at BiderehallaKaval, Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru, about 100 km from Bengaluru here today. “With this, the small village has come on the world-map as it would be manufacturing machines that would protect the country. It is no ordinary facility as the world's attention would be focused on it. I expect the indigenous helicopter under Make-in-India, to fly-out by 2018. It is a gift from Government of India to the people of Karnataka, Tumakuru in particular. Nearly 4000 families, direct or indirect will benefit from this largest ever investment of Rs 5,000 crores in Tumakuru”, he said.

The Prime Minister hoped that HAL would produce 600 helicopters in 15 year period and India's Defence Forces would be the greatest beneficiary of this. “I want companies such as HAL to help the country reduce dependency on overseas suppliers”, he added. Mr. Modi congratulated HAL employees, past and present. “I believe that HAL has good manpower and technical knowhow to fulfill the future needs”, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar hoped that HAL will one day transform into a lead integrator and spearhead the development of aerospace eco-system in India. The Tumakuru facility would meet the country's massive requirements in the Defence sector, he added.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka said that Karnataka has supported HAL all through since its inception and will continue to support by providing additional land for this project. He said the state is proud to have created conducive environment for the aerospace and defence sector with aerospace-park at Devanahalli.

HAL CMD, Mr. T. Suvarna Raju said HAL will continue to play a significant role in realizing Prime Minister's missions like 'Make-in-India', 'Digital India' and 'Skill India' to achieve self-reliance in defence sector.

Mr. Vajubhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka, Union Ministers, Ministers from Karnataka, officials from various quarters attended the massive gathering.