The engineers who built the launch pad for Chandraayan-3 finished their work despite unpaid fees

The workforce that was crucial to the successful launch of the “Bahubali” rocket into space was cheering despite not receiving pay for more than a year as the entire country and the world watched India’s “Moon Mission” take another realistic step on Friday with the launch of Chandrayaan-3. Despite being unpaid for the previous 17 months, the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in Ranchi engineers worked tirelessly to finish the work order for Chandrayaan-3 that they were given by ISRO.

Even though the personnel, including the engineers, top officials, and laborers, were working without pay, the company produced the mobile launching pad in December 2022, ahead of time, along with other important and complicated equipment.

Located in Ranchi’s Dhurwa neighborhood, the HEC is a public sector enterprise that reports to the ministry of heavy industries.

The HEC has reportedly been in financial trouble for the last two to three years. The HEC employs more than 3,000 engineers and laborers, and for the last 17 months, they have not received compensation.

Engineer Subhash Chandra, who was there to applaud Chandrayaan-3’s successful launch, said: “The HEC staff lifted their heads with pride once again. We are pleased to be partners in such a significant national endeavor.

Sources claim that the HEC has repeatedly asked the Ministry of Heavy Industries for operating capital worth Rs 1,000 crore.

However, it seems that the Ministry has said that the Center is unable to provide any assistance.

Employees are not being paid in the meanwhile due to the debts’ significant growth.

In reality, no permanent CMD has been appointed to the HEC in the last two and a half years.

On Friday afternoon, India’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket successfully launched Chandrayaan-3, a moon mission, into orbit.

The 3.8 tonne Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was launched into orbit by the powerful rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The project’s overall cost is around Rs 615 crore.