Another Mihan company unlikely to fly into Nagpur
Company officials have also talked about an investment plan of around ₹4,000 crores for the Nagpur project.
NAGPUR: Kalpana Saroj Aviation (KSA) has turned out to be yet another project announced with ambitious plans in MIHAN-SEZ which may turn out to be a non-starter. The company is promoted by Mumbai-based entrepreneur Kalpana Saroj, who is also well-known for her rags-to-riches story.
Company officials have also talked about an investment plan of around ₹4,000 crores for the Nagpur project. And a Padma Shri awardee, Saroj is also the woman behind the revival of segmental tubes in Mumbai.
KSA’s letter of approval (LOA), which allowed it to operate in a special economic zone (SEZ), was due to expire completely in August 2022. LOA is also the basic document for doing business in SEZ. Kalpana Saroj Aviation will also have to renew the letter of approval to continue with the operations. But there has been absolutely no communication from KSA in any way so far, said sources.
The death of a key official, whose brainchild had even started the entire aviation project in Nagpur, has put the plans on the back burner. And the person was a former pilot and was also involved in the direct implementation of the project, said sources involved in the development of the KSA.
Facility would also cater to the needs of civilian aircraft
Despite repeated attempts to call, there was no response from Saroj in any way. A message on his mobile has also gone unanswered.
At the time of the allotment of land in SEZ in June 2021, An official of this company told TOI that Kalpana Saroj Aviation is in talks with an American company so that a joint venture can be easily formed for the maintenance of the US CJ-130 Hercules aircraft flown by the Indian Air Force.
The official also spoke about plans to start charter services and train students, adding that the facility would also cater to the needs of civilian aircraft.
Sources have also said that the company has not started any work including construction. However, this is also the first deadline that has been missed and at this stage, the KSA cannot be considered to giving up on the project at all. And a unit in SEZ takes about five years in total to generate net foreign exchange earnings.
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