PM Modi hands over light combat helicopter to IAF

Lucknow, Nov 19: In a major push to "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" programme in the defence sector, the prime minister formally handed over indigenously designed and developed defence equipment to the three chiefs of armed forces in Jhansi.

At the ceremony, Modi formally gave light combat aircraft (LCH) designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the Air Force chief, drones and UAVs built by Indian startups to the Army chief, and the DRDO-designed and Bharat Electronics Limited-manufactured advanced electronic warfare suite for naval ships to the Navy chief.

PM Modi also inaugurated or laid the foundations of multiple development projects worth over Rs 3,425 crore to expedite growth of the economically backward Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

He laid the foundation of a 600-megawatt Ultra Mega Solar Power Park. The park is being constructed at a cost of over Rs 3,013 crore and will help provide cheaper electricity and grid stability.

He also laid the foundation of a Rs 400-crore project at the Jhansi node of Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The project is being executed by Bharat Dynamics Ltd for setting up a plant to produce propulsion systems for anti-tank guided missiles.

The prime minister also inaugurated Atal Ekta Park in Jhansi. Named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the park has been built at a cost of over Rs 12 crore, and is spread over an area of about 40,000 square metre.

The park will house a library as well as a statue of Vajpayee. The statue has been built by renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, the man behind the Statue of Unity, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The grand ceremony was organised in the precincts of Jhansi Fort on the birthday of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the epitome of bravery and courage and a great National icon of Rashtra Raksha and India's Independence struggle.

The three-day 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' that began on Wednesday concluded with the participation of Modi.