Agni-III launch a major milestone: Pallam Raju

Rajahmundry, Apr 12 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju today termed the successful launch of Agni-III as a major milestone in the Indian strategic missile programme.

Addressing the press here, soon after returning from the Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal close to the Dharma coast in Orissa, Mr Pallamraju said the whole nation was jubilant as the missile was designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

He said the successful launch reinforced the country's capability in missle technology on par with other nations.

On FDI in defence production, he said the FDI would be allowed to an extent of 26 per cent under the supervision of Defence Ministry.

Mr Pallamraju said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sought for a special plan to develop road network in Jammu and Kashmir and other North Eastern states.

He said an amount of Rs 12,400 crore had been allocated to these states through Border Road Organisation (BRO) for constructing roads.

UNI