Vijayawada, Sep 19 (IANS): Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art factory of defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district to cater to the country's futuristic requirements for night vision products.

BEL, a Navratna defence public sector undertaking, is setting up the plant at Nimmaluru village, near Machilipatnam, about 70 km from here, on 50 acres of land with an investment of Rs 300 crore.

The new facility is coming up about 16 km from an existing unit of BEL at Machilipatnam. It will be built in stages and will take over four years, BEL said.

Venkaiah Naidu said 87 per cent products to be manufactured at the plant will be supplied to the defence forces.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y.S. Chowdary and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were also present at the ceremony.

BEL has been engaged in design, development and manufacturing of Electro Optics equipment and Night Vision Products for defence and paramilitary forces. 

"The new facility has been planned to establish a state-of-the-art factory to cater to the futuristic requirements for night vision products," said BEL Chairman and Managing Director S.K. Sharma.

The Advanced Night Vision Products Factory at Nimmaluru will enable BEL to expand its Electro-Optics business and carry out manufacturing and integration for the ongoing and upcoming projects. 

It will have state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure such as modern optics workshops, clean rooms of the highest standards, and facility for Thin Film coating with higher durability, BEL said.