ENA State 2025-10-06 16:48:42 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Tamil Nadu, Oct 6 (KNN)</strong> Tamil Nadu is preparing a comprehensive roadmap to position itself as Indias leading hub for the low-altitude economy (LAE), which covers aerial operations&mdash;both manned and unmanned&mdash;below 3,000 metres.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The State Planning Commission is developing a detailed strategy to harness this emerging sectors potential.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The low-altitude economy includes drone operations, air mobility systems, and related services. Rapid advancements in drone and air mobility technologies have made this sector a global priority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Tamil Nadu is among the first Indian states to take structured steps toward this transformation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The state has already set up Indias first common testing centre for drones at SIPCOT Vallam Vadagal, built with an investment of Rs 45 crore.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Additionally, a testing, training, and operations facility for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone activities is being developed at Chettinad Airport under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII) programme.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Tamil Nadus existing industrial base gives it an advantage. The presence of major aerospace and defence organisations such as HAL, BEL, and DRDO, combined with its 60-km-long automotive corridor&mdash;known as the Detroit of Asia&mdash;provides strong support for innovation in this new economic frontier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The state is expected to present its master plan at the Tamil Nadu Low Altitude Economy Forum 2025 next month.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The roadmap will focus on creating drone corridors, vertiports, certification frameworks, training centres, and policy support through public-private partnerships. Companies like Airbus, EHang, Garuda Aerospace, and ePlane are expected to participate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Globally, the low-altitude sector is expanding fast&mdash;Chinas market grew from USD 49 billion in 2021 to USD 65 billion in 2023 and could reach USD 450 billion by 2035.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Indias drone market, currently valued at USD 562 million, is projected to almost triple by 2033.</span></p> <p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">(KNN Bureau)</span></strong></em></p> 43718 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/state/tamil-nadu-drafts-roadmap-to-become-indias-low-altitude-economy-hub 2025-10-06 16:48:42 knnindia.co.in