ISRO rockets into higher orbit with a 35% hike

NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) on Friday prepared to zoom into higher orbit following a nearly 35% hike in its budget. This, the space agency says, is the highest in recent years.

In 2009, Isro's budgetary allocation was Rs 4,167 crore. This year it has jumped to Rs 5,778 crore. "We've received additional Rs 1,611 crore, which will enable us to implement most of our approved projects without a hitch," said an official to ToI requesting anonymity.

India's human space flight programme and the moon mission have got booster shots. The amount for the manned flight project has increased from Rs 30 crore in 2009 to Rs 150 crore. "This will allow us to initiate some of the additional pre-project activities," the official said. The overall cost of the programme is around Rs 13,000 crore, of which the government has allotted only Rs 95 crore so far. Last February, the Plan panel cleared the programme and estimated that Rs 5,000 crore would be needed for executing the preliminary plans.