- Five expansion projects of GRSE and YIL involve an investment of nearly ₹3,500 crore.
- GRSE will strengthen shipbuilding and ship-repair capacity at three locations.
- YIL will add advanced forging facilities for critical defence components.
- Rajnath Singh says India can emerge as a global shipbuilding hub.
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 23rd Aug: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday performed the Bhumi Pujan for five expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited (YIL) involving an investment of nearly ₹3,500 crore.
The projects comprise three GRSE facilities at Kidderpore in Kolkata, Shalimar in Howrah and Raichak in South 24-Parganas, and two YIL facilities at the Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore. They are aimed at strengthening India’s shipbuilding, ship-repair, metallurgical and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Rajnath Singh said the projects would strengthen India’s defence self-reliance and support the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, Make for the World initiatives.
“Self-reliance is not merely a policy; it is a force multiplier for battlefield capability,” Singh said, stressing the importance of indigenous weapons, platforms and defence production.
GRSE’s expansion includes development of a 32-acre facility at Raichak, where the company plans to invest more than ₹2,500 crore. The facility will enable construction of warships up to 200 metres long and commercial vessels of up to 60,000 deadweight tonnes.
The company also plans to invest nearly ₹100 crore at Timber Pond in Shalimar to develop a medium-vessel shipbuilding and repair facility, while around ₹70 crore will be invested at the Damodar facility in Kidderpore for vessel repair and construction of electric ferries and small craft.
The two YIL projects, involving more than ₹750 crore, will enhance domestic production of critical components for defence, railways and other strategic sectors.
A new 3,000-tonne Heavy Duty Hydraulic Open Die Forging Press will replace an ageing 2,650-tonne press and support production of gun barrels, ammunition components and heavy defence forgings.
The second project is a Radial Forging Plant, which will manufacture super-alloy forgings, aerial bomb components, railway axles and nuclear reactor components using advanced manufacturing technologies.
Rajnath Singh said changing global shipbuilding capacity and rising demand for naval and commercial vessels present a major opportunity for India.
He stressed the need to leverage India’s engineering talent, technology capabilities, skilled workforce and MSME ecosystem to develop indigenous ship designs and modernise shipyards.
The Defence Minister also highlighted ship repair and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) as an opportunity for India to establish itself as a hub in the Indian Ocean Region.
He called on Indian defence companies to focus not only on meeting domestic requirements but also on developing products and platforms for international markets.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the projects would strengthen the state’s industrial sector, create employment and generate opportunities for MSMEs and ancillary industries.
