The Telangana government today requested the Centre that the city-based Defence Research and Development Organisation, be named after former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard, according to a release issued by his office. He said the research done by DRDO has helped the country towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector.

"Under Kalam's guidance, when he was director of DRDO, several research works were done in the organisation enhancing country's self-reliance in defence systems," Rao said.

"Naming the DRDO after Kalam, who had close association with Hyderabad city, would inspire the future generations and also pay rich tributes to Kalam by India's defence organisation or establishment," Rao was quoted as saying in the release.

Kalam passed away in Shillong, Meghalaya last week.