CSIR-NAL completes design of indigenous 19-seater Saras MK II; Leh airport terminal 83 pc complete
New Delhi, July 8
India's aviation sector received a boost as the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories completed the design phase of the indigenous 19-seater Saras MkII aircraft, while construction of the new airport terminal at Leh reached 83 per cent.
The development marked progress in the country's efforts to strengthen regional air connectivity and aviation infrastructure.
Announcing the development in a post on X, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh described the completion of the Saras MkII design as a milestone for India's indigenous aviation programme.
"Breaking News from the Ministry of Science & Technology. India achieves a milestone breakthrough in the Aviation sector, led by a #Bengaluru-based institute of #CSIR," Singh wrote.
He said that the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, had completed the design phase of the 19-seater Saras MkII aircraft.
"CSIR-National Aeronautics Laboratory Bengaluru has wrapped up the design phase of the 19-seater #SarasMkII, a testament to India's growing prowess in indigenous aircraft development," the minister said.
Highlighting the significance of the achievement, Singh added, "This milestone reinforces PM Narendra Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and accelerates the UDAN initiative, enhancing connectivity to remote and high-altitude regions with homegrown technology."
The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) also hailed the development in a post on X. "India takes a giant leap in indigenous aviation as CSIR-NAL completes the design of the 19-seater #SarasMkII, strengthening #AtmanirbharBharat and regional connectivity under #UDAN," CSIR said.
Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu shared an update on the construction of the new airport terminal at Leh, saying the project was progressing at a rapid pace.
In a post on X, Naidu said, "Fast-paced construction of Leh's new airport terminal...83% of the physical construction is complete. Once operational, the new terminal is designed to handle up to 54 flights a day, three times the current capacity, advancing Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of next-generation aviation infrastructure."
The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance passenger handling capacity and improve air connectivity to the strategically important Ladakh region.
Earlier, the Ministry of Science and Technology said that SARAS Mk-2 is only the beginning, as India must now look ahead to conceiving and building larger aircraft, including the 19-seater class, in the long run to meet its growing aviation needs.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive progress. But I hope the Saras MkII doesn't face the same delays as the original Saras program. India needs to ensure timely certification and production. The Leh terminal update is equally promising for strategic connectivity.
This is exactly what Atmanirbhar Bharat should look like! The 19-seater design is perfect for our regional routes under UDAN. Small aircraft, big dreams. Can't wait to see it fly over Leh! ✈️
83% completion of Leh terminal is awesome. Strategic importance of Ladakh demands better infrastructure. However I'm a bit skeptical about Saras's track record - hope they've learned from past mistakes and this time delivery will be smooth.
Finally some concrete progress on Saras MkII! The Leh terminal at 54 flights/day capacity will transform tourism and trade in Ladakh. Kudos to all the engineers and workers involved. India is truly rising in aerospace! 🚀
Good to see Indian aviation moving forward. But we need to look beyond 19-seaters - the long-term vision should include larger aircraft. Also, let's not forget the importance of private sector partnerships for faster development. Leh terminal is a strategic necessity.
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