KTR says Telangana first to float Drone policy

IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao on Friday said Telangana was the first State to come up with its own Drone policy to develop an ecosystem for the drone/ UAV industry. The State government, he said, was working with start-ups and industry partners to pilot drone use-cases in healthcare, agriculture, mining, law enforcement, and others.

It has also launched a programme together with Apollo Hospitals- Medicines from the Sky- which the State is upbeat about. Thanking the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the support it has extended to Telangana, the Minister requested to fast track permissions for various initiatives and pilots with respect to drones and their usage. Plans are on for a Drone City to support drone



testing, skilling, research and development and commercialisation.

MROs can bring investment and also help in high-value employment creation and make Hyderabad a hub for airline and engine MROs activities, KTR said adding that the State Government has requested the Government of India to reconsider its decision on the GST with respect MROs.

“We have received in-principle a positive response for this,” he said. Telangana currently has two functional MROs, one operated by GMR and another by Air India. The State is in discussions with more OEMs and operators. “Our ecosystem offers the best infrastructure and skill-base for MROs in India,” he said.