Rajnath Singh Launches Rs 3,300 Crore Defence Manufacturing Push in West Bengal

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stones for five brownfield expansion projects in West Bengal, signalling a significant push for indigenous defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative. The projects, undertaken by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited (YIL), were launched at GRSE Bhavan in Kolkata, with simultaneous ceremonies at sites in Kidderpore, Shalimar, Raichak, and Ishapore.

The expansion plan centres on a major shipbuilding hub at Raichak, where GRSE has signed lease agreements with the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. The 32-acre riverside facility, with an investment exceeding Rs 2,500 crore, will feature a 356-metre waterfront, a 96-metre jetty, and a 200-metre dry dock. It is designed to construct warships up to 200 metres and commercial vessels up to 60,000 DWT.

GRSE is also investing around Rs 100 crore to revive the Timber Pond facility at Shalimar, restoring its 130-metre dry dock and adding a 120-metre slipway for medium-sized shipbuilding and repairs. A further Rs 70 crore is earmarked for the Damodar facility at Kidderpore Docks, which will handle medium-sized vessel repairs and manufacture electric ferries and small crafts.

At YIL's Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore, two projects with a combined investment exceeding Rs 750 crore will strengthen indigenous metallurgical output. A Rs 277.59-crore Heavy Duty Hydraulic Open Die Forging Press will replace an older unit to produce gun barrels, ammunition components, and heavy forgings. A separate Rs 473.84-crore Radial Forging Plant will manufacture super alloy forgings, aerial bomb tubes, railway axles, and nuclear reactor components.

Both YIL facilities will incorporate Industry 4.0 and energy-efficient systems, aiming to reduce import dependency while supporting ancillary micro, small, and medium enterprises in the state. The event was attended by senior officials including West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, and the chairmen of GRSE and YIL.