Essar group to setup maintenance facilities

The Ruia family seems to be the latest business house in India to be bitten by the aviation bug. Unlike others who rushed to float new airlines, Ruias-promoted Essar group proposes to set up an aircraft engineering and overhaul facility to tap the growing need for aircraft maintenance and service. Essar Constructions (ECL), a part of the Rs 67,000 crore Essar group, has initiated talks with global players in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market to set up a facility in India, sources said. "As part of plans to enter the $800 million and growing Indian MRO market, ECL is joining hands with global giants prior experience and expertise in the area. We have initiated talks with some major players in the MRO market and are seriously considering few strategic alliances for setting up an MRO facility in India," a source said.

The firm, sources said, has short listed Thiruvananthapuram as site for facility, and proposes to establish it along with Airports Authority of India on a build-operate-transfer basis. Essar group spokesperson said:"The firm continues to explore avenues of growth. But we cannot divulge details on any of these proposed ventures." Sources said Essar group has submitted an E0I with the civil aviation ministry for setting up this facility in Thiruvananthapuram. With airlines — both domestic and international — mounting their capacity to India, the firm intends to tap the $800 million and growing market for aircraft repair and maintenance. Using Thiruvananthapuram as a base would also help tap the demand from Gulf markets.

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