BEML will remain public sector firm, says Ananth Kumar

The Union government's proposal for 'strategic stake sale' in Public Sector Udertaking (PSU) Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) has been deferred.

"Efforts will be made to ensure that it won't happen,'' Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event organised for formal handover of intermediate Metro cars to BMRCL, Kumar said he that has spoken to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this regard.

Noting that BEML plays a major role in defence sector as well as indigenisation of key technology required for transport systems like Metro and suburban rail, the minister said, "The finance minister has agreed that BEML should continue as a public sector company."

Kumar said he would urge Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to award all tenders for railway coaches to BEML.

"BEML's Bengaluru, KGF and Palakkad units should grow to become the technology hub for making Metro and railway coaches in the country. I will bring the railway minister for a visit to show him the company's technological prowess," he said, requesting the Chief Managing Director of BEML Deepak Kumar Hota to prepare a concept note in this regard.

HAL airport

Kumar said he has held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Civil Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha as well as Chief Minister Siddaramiah to turn HAL airport into Maintenance, Repair and Overhauling (MRO) Centre.

"At present, our planes are going to the US, Singapore and other foreign countries for MRO facilities. Being an aerospace technology capital, Bengaluru should have such a facility. The HAL airport should become a such a hub," he said.