Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has laid the foundation stone for five defence expansion projects worth nearly ₹3,500 crore in West Bengal, marking a significant move to strengthen India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and shipbuilding infrastructure.
The projects involve Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited (YIL). Three projects are being undertaken by GRSE at Kidderpore, Shalimar and Raichak, while two YIL facilities are being developed at the Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore. The projects are expected to expand industrial capacity and strengthen the wider defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The investment comes as India continues to focus on increasing domestic defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The expansion of existing facilities will help create additional capacity for shipbuilding, ship repair and specialised manufacturing while supporting the growth of local suppliers and ancillary industries.
GRSE’s projects are particularly significant for India’s maritime sector. The expansion at Raichak will provide additional infrastructure for shipbuilding activities and is expected to enhance the company’s ability to undertake larger and more demanding vessel construction programmes. The developments at Shalimar and Kidderpore will further strengthen GRSE’s existing shipbuilding and repair infrastructure.
The projects being developed by Yantra India at Ishapore will add advanced manufacturing capabilities to the country’s defence industrial base. The new facilities are expected to support specialised production and metallurgical requirements for defence and other strategic sectors.
The expansion also highlights the importance of building a complete domestic defence ecosystem. While platforms such as warships remain a major focus, the availability of critical materials, components and specialised manufacturing capabilities is equally important for reducing dependence on overseas supply chains.
Rajnath Singh has emphasised India’s potential to become a major global shipbuilding hub, supported by its skilled workforce, steel production capabilities and growing technological expertise. Strengthening domestic shipbuilding capacity can help India meet future naval requirements while also creating opportunities in international markets.
The ₹3,500 crore investment is also expected to benefit MSMEs and ancillary industries associated with defence manufacturing and shipbuilding. Increased demand for engineering, fabrication, components and specialised services could create new business and employment opportunities across the industrial ecosystem.
For West Bengal, the projects represent an important expansion of its role in India’s defence manufacturing network. With major investments going into shipbuilding and advanced industrial production, the state could become an increasingly important contributor to India’s long-term defence manufacturing ambitions.
The foundation of these five projects reflects India’s broader effort to build a more capable and self-reliant defence industrial base. By expanding domestic shipbuilding and specialised manufacturing capacity, the government aims to strengthen national security while supporting India’s emergence as a competitive player in the global defence and maritime industry.
-
-
-
-
