Bengaluru, Mar 25: Saras Mk2, India's first indigenous passenger aircraft, will be inducted into service after 2022. The National Aeronautics Laboratories (NAL) has undertaken the development programme with a renewed vigour under the Narendra Modi government.

The development of Saras, though initiated in 2005, struck a roadblock in 2009 after two pilots were killed in an accident during its trial run.

NAL Director Jitendra Jadhav claims the issues which came to the fore after the accident have been resolved. The design deficiencies have been addressed, he said, further adding that the aircraft is now safe on both quality and controllability parameters.

Union Science Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the project, "which was dumped by the erstwhile government", was resumed in 2016. The 7,000-kg plane has conducted two-safe test-runs in the past 18 months, he added.

Saras could accelerate above 700 km/ph with full payload, the Minister said, further claiming that each aircraft would cost around Rs 40-45 crore, as against Rs 60-70 crore incurred on importing its foreign counterparts.

The reduction in cost of production would impact the fares, as the commutation costs are bound to drop.

According to an NDTV report, the production of the aircraft will begin in 2022. The pre-production cost is expected to surge up to Rs 1,000 crore.

Saras' use will not be confined for civil purposes. The military version of the plane will also be produced.

The NAL has awarded the contract for Saras' military planes to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), while a private manufacturer would be roped in to develop the civilian aircrafts.

A total of 120-160 Saras planes will be inducted into the civil and military sectors each.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2018 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).