Hyderabad, Mar 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO) Complex to the nation here on Tuesday.

The center was set up at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to upgrade and enhance research and development (R&D) activities in the civil aviation sector.

The center provides a global research platform for the aviation community through in-house and collaborative research to provide indigenous and innovative solutions.

Built at a cost of more than Rs 354 crore, this state-of-the-art facility is compliant with 5-STAR-GRIHA Rating and Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) norms.

The center promotes start-ups and innovation in the aviation landscape while creating employment opportunities for youth.

CARO will utilize a set of comprehensive laboratory capabilities to support future research and development initiatives.

While embracing the’make in India’ concept, it will propel AI to emerge as a self-reliant global leader.

It will also leverage data analytics capabilities for operational analysis and performance measurement.

The primary R&D activities in CARO shall include: airspace and airport-related safety, capacity, and efficiency improvement programs; addressing the major airspace challenges; looking into major airport infrastructure challenges; and developing technologies and products in identified fields for futuristic airspace and airport needs, among others.

The CARO Building complex is taken up in an area of 39,080 sq m, including an R&D center of 17,475 sq m (ground + 3 floors), a basement of 6,700 sq m, a residential block of 8630 sq m (ground + 7 floors), and a utility building of 1295 sq m of area.

The basement will be used mainly for car parking, along with the provision of EV charging points for accommodating 128 cars and the provision of surface car parking for 83 and 64 two-wheelers.

The complex will have labs including ATM emulators, data analytics labs, and visualization labs. UAS and Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) labs.

Cyber security and threat analysis labs, a data management center, a project support center, a software solutions and tools center, and a network infrastructure center will also be in the complex.

UNI