opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Construction of National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena, Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2625 ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2022

## CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

2625. SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will The Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government targets to construct 18000 km of National Highways across the country at a record speed of fifty km per day;

(b if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of estimated funds likely to be sanctioned for the purpose;

- (d) the name of States likely to be covered under this project including Assam; and
- (e) the time by which work thereon is likely to be started?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a)  and  (b)  Ministry  has  set  a  target  for  construction  of  12,200  km  National Highways (NHs) during 2022-23, against which 4,766 km has been constructed till November, 2022.

(c)  and  (d)  Budgetary  outlay  for  the  year  2022-23  is  Rs.1,87,744  crore  for development of NHs in the Country including the State of Assam. In addition to this,  it  is  targeted  to  raise  funds  amounting  to  Rs.  25,000  crore  through monetization  of  NHs,  which  would  also  be  spent  for  development  of  NHs.

- (e) Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. Accordingly, works on NHs are approved and awarded in stretches based upon traffic, interse-priority,  requirements  of  connectivity  and  availability  of  resources.  A  time limit of 2-3 years is generally kept for completion of new NH projects.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Rapid Rail Transit System
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

NO. 2624:

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2624

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 22, 2022

## RAPID RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up more Rapid Rail Transit  System  (RRTS)  Rolling  Stock  Manufacturing  plants  in other States including Andhra Pradesh in future on the lines of the  facility  in  Gujarat  being  used  to  manufacture  the  entire rolling stock of India's first RRTS;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) to (c): No sir. The rolling stock for the first Regional Rapid Transit System  (RRTS)  is  being  procurred  through  competitive  bidding process. The rolling stock is to be manufactured by the successful bidder  under  Make  In  India  policy  any  where  in  India.  Decision  on location of manufacturing is of the successful bidder.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Financial Audit of MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2022

## RENOVATION OF KHADI GRAM KENDRAS

2623. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a)      Whether  the  Institute  of  Cost  Accountants  of  India  has  requested  the  Government  to consider allowing cost and management accountants to conduct financial audit of MSMEs;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof;
- (c)    Whether the Government has taken any steps in response to such demand; and
- (d)    If not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

- (a) & (b): No  such  request  from  the  Institute  of  Cost  Accountants  of  India  has  been received in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

- (c) & (d): Doest not arise.

.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2620 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Hathras as Smart City
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rajveer Diler

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2620 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 22, 2022

## HATHRAS AS SMART CITY

## NO. 2620.  SHRI RAJVEER DILER:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to develop Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, which is a famous industrial city and pilgrimage site since the British region, as modern smart city; and
- (b) the time by which the said proposal is likely to be finalised?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) & (b): Government of India launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) on 25 June  2015.    100  Smart  Cities  have  been  selected  through  4  rounds  of competition from January 2016 to June 2018.  10 cities in the State of Uttar Pradesh,  i.e.  Agra,  Aligarh,  Bareilly,  Jhansi,  Kanpur,  Lucknow,  Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur & Varanasi, were selected for development as Smart Cities.

There  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  of  the  Government  to  add  more cities under SCM, including Hathras, as 100 cities proposed to be covered under  the  Mission  have  already  been  selected.    However,  the  100  Smart Cities can act as lighthouses for other aspiring cities of the country. In order to  support  other  cities  in  their  journey  towards  becoming  Smart  Cities,  a workbook  titled  'Making  a  City  Smart:  Lessons  from  the  Smart  Cities Mission'  has  been  released  by  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs.  The workbook  encapsulates  learnings  from  on-ground  implementation  of  SCM over  the  past  five  years,  and  can  be  used  by  State  Governments/Union Territories to handhold its cities through the What, Why and How of making a city 'Smart'. The workbook is available online at:

https://smartnet.niua.org/content/bddf745e-1bc8-4eeb-bb80-376704222623  .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Digital Transformation of MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2616 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2022

## DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF MSMES

## 2616.   SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will  the  Minister  of  MICRO,  SMALL  AND  MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  promote  digital  transformation  of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  awareness  regarding  use  of cloud- based digital cores in enabling enterprises to adapt digital transformation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDMUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

- (a)  &  (b):                            Ministry  of  MSME  has  undertaken  several  initiatives  for  digital transformation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These inter-alia, include Udyam Registration,  MSME  Champions  Portal,  Government  e-Marketplace  (GeM),  Trade Receivables  Discounting  System  (TReDS),  msmemart.com,  MSME  SAMBANDH  for monitoring  of  procurement  by  Central  Public  Sector  Enterprises  (CPSEs)  from  Micro  and Small  Enterprises  (MSEs)  and  MSME  SAMADHAAN  portals  for  filling  applications regarding delayed payment.
- (c):              Ministry of MSME has included 'Digital MSME Scheme' under the MSME Champions  Schemes  to  increase  awareness,  use  of  cloud  based  digital  tools,  for  digital empowerment of MSMEs in the country.  The Ministry through this programme will support MSMEs  for  digitization  and  digitalization  and  make  MSMEs  digitally  empowered  and motivate  them  to  adapt  cloud-  based  digital  cores  such  as  digital  tools,  applications  and technologies  in  their  production  &  business  processes  with  a  view  to  improve  their competitiveness.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Road Projects in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2615

## ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2022

## ROAD PROJECTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 2615. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received a request from Andhra Pradesh for a bypass road on eastern side of Vijayawada;
- (b) if so, the details and the present status thereof;
- (c) whether any steps have been taken for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for six-lane National Highway from Visakhapatnam Port to Bhogapuram via Rushikonda and Bheemili; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) The State Government of Andhra Pradesh had requested to take up construction  of  bypass  on  eastern  side  of  Vijayawada.   The  Ministry  had suggested  to  handover  the  vacant  Government  land  by  the  side  of  the proposed bypass, free of cost to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for development of Multi Modal Logistic Park, for which consent has been given  by  the  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh.  Accordingly,  Feasibility  / Detailed Project Report (DPR) study for construction of Eastern Bypass to Vijayawada City having 40 km length on National Highway (NH) - 16 including construction of Major Bridge across river Krishna has been taken up.
- (c) Yes, Sir.
- (d) Work of preparation of DPR for the stretch from Container Terminal to NH-16 at Bhogapuram via Rushikonda & Bheemili has been taken up.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2614 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Committee for Gas Pricing
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2614

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd DECEMBER , 2022

## Committee for Gas Pricing

## 2614. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has appointed a committee to review the gas pricing formula and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the said committee has submitted its recommendations to the Government and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the committee has suggested roadmap for freedom in gas pricing; and
- (d) if so, the details and other main recommendations made by the committee and reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंालय म रायमंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (d):  Government  had  constituted  an  Expert  Committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Dr.Kirit Parikh to critically examine and review the current domestic natural gas pricing regime, marketing, including Pricing Freedom for the gas to be produced from Discoveries in Deep Water, Ultra Deep Water and High Pressure-High Temperature areas, issues related to ensuring fair price to the end consumer and to suggest market oriented, transparent and reliable pricing regimes.

The Committee has submitted its report recently on 30.11.2022 recommending, inter alia, change in formula  for  pricing  of  gas  produced  from  nomination  fields  to  make  it  more  market  oriented, removal of ceiling price of High Pressure-High Temperature from a specified date, etc.  It has also recommended maintaining the price, within a floor and ceiling, of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) gas for the domestic consumers.  Decision on the recommendations made by the Committee is predicated upon the views of different stakeholders through inter-ministerial consultations.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Upgradation of SHs as NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: B. Y. Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 2613

ANSWERED ON  22 nd  DECEMBER, 2022

## UPGRADATION OF SHs AS NHs

## 2613.    SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्गमंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the State Highways Shimoga-ShikaripuraShiralkoppa-Hanagal-Thadasa (SH-25) and Shimoga-HonnaliMalebennur-Honnali (SH-27) had been granted in principle approval as National Highways (NHs) in 2015-16 and since then no action has been taken thereon;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) the time by which the said approved highways are likely to be declared as NHs;
- (d) whether the Government is considering to upgrade Sagara-SorabaAnavatti  (SH-62)  and  AyanurRipponpet-Hosanagara (SH-26)  as  NHs  in
- view of increasing traffic volume; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to declare the aforesaid highways as NHs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

(Shri NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (e) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for development  and  maintenance  of  National  Highways  (NHs)  in  the country.    Ministry  keeps  on  receiving  proposals  from  various  State Governments/UTs,  etc.,  including  from  the  State  of  Karnataka  for declaration / up-gradation of State roads as National  Highways (NHs).  Ministry considers declaration of some of the State roads as NHs from  time  to  time  based  on  the  requirements  of  connectivity,  traffic levels, inter-se priority and availability of resources subject to fulfilment of criteria for declaration as new NH.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: National Hydrogen Mission
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2611

ANSWERED ON 22.12.2022

## NATIONAL HYDROGEN MISSION

## 2611. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government concurs with the view that the National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) would be expanded to encourage the use and production of Hydrogen for fuel cells and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof ;
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (d) In the Independence Day speech on August 15, 2021, Hon'ble Prime Minister announced the  launch  of  National  Hydrogen  Mission.  The  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  has accordingly prepared a draft Mission document which inter-alia proposes support for production and deployment of Green Hydrogen, R&D for fuel cell development and pilot projects for fuel cell vehicles.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Petrochemical Corridor in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Midhun Reddy

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2609 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  DECEMBER, 2022

## Petrochemical Corridor in Andhra Pradesh

2609. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

## पैोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has agreed to set up a petrochemical corridor in Andhra Pradesh in 2021;
- (b) if so, the quantum of funds allocated and utilised for the project till date;
- (c) the present status and the time by which the project is likely to be completed; and
- (d) whether there is any time and cost overrun and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  PETROLEUM  AND  NATURAL  GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d)  Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC) has informed that setting up of a Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR)has been approved in Andhra Pradesh at Vishakhapatnam-Kakinada. The PCPIR is conceptualized in a cluster approach  to  promote  Petroleum,  Chemical  and  Petrochemical  sectors  in  an  integrated  and environment friendly manner on a large scale.

DCPC has further informed that the assistance/funding under PCPIR policy can't be in the form  of  a  grant  as  there  is  no  provision  of  grants  in  the  existing  policy.  However, Government provides necessary funding to make such projects viable, called Viability Gap Funding (VGF), as well as budget support for creation of these linkages through respective Ministries and Ministry of Finance.

Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  (GoAP),  GAIL  (India)  Limited  and  Hindustan  Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) signed an MoU on 27.01.2017 for the Petrochemical Complex at  Kakinada,  Andhra  Pradesh.  After  detailed  study,  it  was  concluded  that  VGF  would  be required to make the project viable. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has accordingly conveyed to GoAP that Refinery and Petrochemical Projects are capital intensive projects and require huge amount of investment and State Government may take appropriate decision on the issue in overall interest of the State.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: QR Codes for LPG Cylinders
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2607 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  DECEMBER, 2022

## QR Codes for LPG Cylinders

2607. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृतक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of  PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS  be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the domestic LPG cylinders would be equipped with scannable QR codes in the next three months and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of LPG cylinders embedded with QR code released in the market so far; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to prevent gas theft from LPG gas cylinders and ensure better inventory management of the cylinders?

## ANSWER पेोलयम एवं ाक ृतक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल ) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (c)  A  pilot  study  for  QR  code  tagging  of  cylinders  has  been  undertaken  by  Indian  Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) at Madanpur Khadar Bottling Plant, Delhi. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has accorded approval for a period of 3 months w.e.f. 01.09.2022 for filling of QR coded LPG cylinders at Madanpur Khadar Bottling plant and dispatch to only two distributors of Delhi Market. Subsequently PESO has extended the permission further for 3 more  months  i.e.  till    28.02.2023.  This  initiative  has  potential  to  resolve  issues  of  pilferage, tracking  and  tracing  and  better  inventory  management  of  gas  cylinders.    IOCL  has  sent  total 23,827 such QR tagged 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders to these distributors till 27.11.2022. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs) have taken several steps to prevent pilferage/supply of underweight cylinders to LPG consumers, which inter-alia include, random weight checking of filled cylinders at bottling plant, sealing of cylinders with Tamper Evident Seal,  Statistical  Quality  Control  on  10  %  cylinders  received  from  bottling  plant,  pre-delivery checks of cylinders, carrying portable weighing scales by delivery persons, random checks by OMC officials at go-down/delivery points/en-route, organizing public awareness campaigns etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-22
Subject: Drone and Privacy Concerns
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Sanjeev Kumar Singari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2606

(To be answered on the 22 nd  December 2022)

## DRONE AND PRIVACY CONCERNS

2606.

DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to deal with the question of privacy when it comes to the use of UAVs and drones for the purpose of research, development and testing purposes and traffic management and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Drone Amendment Rules, 2022 are insufficient to tackle the issue of privacy and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has organized any awareness drive to create awareness about the mechanism of obtaining certification, registration, remote pilot licenses and insurance for an unmanned aircraft system and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) and (b) As per Drone Rules 2021 and Drone Amendment Rules 2022, drones being operated for research, development and testing purposes are free to operate in green zone such that the area where such drones are being operated is under the control of the testing entity. For operating in yellow and red zone, the permission is required from the Air Traffic Control and Central Government after checking multiple parameters like registration of drone and pilot, drone model, flight plan, purpose of the operation, etc.

As regards the dealing with the privacy issues, Rule 49(4) of the Drone Rules provides explicitly that the provisions of these rules shall be in addition, to and not in derogation, of the provisions of any other law, for the time being in force. This provision adequately covers all offences including breach of privacy  covered  under  the  relevant  laws  including  the  Information Technology Act, 2000 that has provisions for punishment for violation of privacy.

(c) To create awareness about the mechanism of obtaining certification, registration, remote pilot licenses and insurance for an unmanned aircraft system, the Central Government has organised Drone melas in States across the country to highlight the uses cases and the policy reforms. A Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022 was organised at Pragati Maidan during 27th-29th May 2022 in the august presence of the Hon'ble Prime Minister as the Chief Guest. The event attracted over 70 drone exhibitors and 10,000 visitors.

- *****