The Defence Research and Development Organisation is planning to set up a long range missile testing centre at coastal Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, a top official said on Saturday.

DRDO chief V K Saraswat said the organization has resolved issues with the Ministry of Petroleum as the area where the facility is likely to come up falls under Krishna-Godavari basin.

We have asked the Government of Andhra Pradesh to give us 260 acres of land to develop the facility. It will take a maximum of three years to be operationalised,” said V.K. Saraswat, Director-General of the defence organisation and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri.

He told newspersons here today that the Machilipatnam facility would complement the test range in Balasore. It would help in longer range missile launches as well as in carrying out tests for the Ballistic Missile Defence Shied wherein multiple missiles need to be launched for trials, the scientific adviser explained.

Asked about the energy and security issues raised by the Ministry of Petroleum on oil and gas exploration activity in areas neighbouring Machilipatnam on the East Coast, Saraswat said “they have been amicably sorted out”. “We are working with the State Government to firm up land acquisition,” he added.