India to build satellite navigation system
By agencies   |   Wednesday, 05 July 2006, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: A satellite-based system to be built in the next five to six years at a cost of $16 million (Rs 1,600 crore) will enable New Delhi to provide positioning, navigation and timing services across the country and neighboring areas, officials said here on Tuesday. Addressing an industry meet on satellite navigation and talking to reporters later, G Madhavan Nair, Secretary in the Department of Space and chairman of ISRO, said the system is a totally independent navigational system based on a constellation of eight satellites. ISRO officials said the system would be under Indian control, and the space and ground segments as well as receivers will be built in the country. Through the meet, officials said the department has identified satellite navigation as a key area and a massive investment in this programme is slated for the 11th five-year plan attended by representatives from 50 companies. They noted that ISRO and the Airports Authority of India are implementing a satellite-based navigation system for civil aviation called Gagan.

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