Manohar Parrikar tells DRDO to focus on core areas; says not to take up new projects

NEW DELHI: Most of the military systems it develops face time delays and cost escalation but ironically the one thing that the Defence Research and Development Organisation is considered good at by the armed forces – constructing buildings and executing civil works – is now being taken away.

Sending a clear message to India’s premier defence research agency to focus on its core functions, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has instructed that the organisation will no longer undertake civil and maintenance works of other departments, including entities like the Brahmos Missile Company and the Strategic Forces Command besides the three armed forces.

In a terse set of instructions to DRDO headquarters, Parrikar has ordered that the organisation shall no longer undertake any new civil or maintenance works projects with effect from March 12, choking a large portion of its independent revenue stream.

It is a lesser known facet of the organisation but DRDO has a works department that executes construction projects – from office buildings to missile storage units, launching areas and accommodation – worth over Rs 5,000 crore every year.

Beside projects for armed forces, DRDO has recently constructed the new AICTE headquarters in Delhi.