Defence Minister lays foundation stones for five brownfield projects in Bengal

Kolkata, Aug 23 (AHN) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for five brownfield expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, a Navratna Defence PSU and Yantra India Limited (YIL), at GRSE Bhavan, Kolkata, on Sunday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, were also present at the event.

The five projects, involving an investment of over Rs 3,400 crore, will generate employment, create additional capacity and capabilities for both GRSE and YIL.

The three projects of GRSE mark a significant step towards enhancing the shipyard’s manufacturing capacity and infrastructure, enabling the company to meet the growing requirements of the maritime forces and other defence and maritime stakeholders, while advancing the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India vision.

The Bhumi Pujan ceremonies were conducted simultaneously at Kidderpore, Shalimar, Raichak and Ishapore across West Bengal. As part of its capacity expansion, GRSE has signed lease agreements with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) for two small shipyards on either bank of the Hooghly, along with a 32-acre riverside property at Raichak, to enhance its capabilities in warship construction and refit, as well as the construction and repair of small and medium-sized commercial vessels.

The Raichak facility, with a 356-metre waterfront, 96-metre jetty and 8-10 metre draught, will be developed as a shipbuilding hub with an investment of over Rs 2,500 crore, featuring a 200-metre dry dock, slipway, launching pad, jetties and block fabrication facilities, enabling construction of warships up to 200 metres and commercial vessels up to 60,000 DWT.

The 4-acre Timber Pond facility at Shalimar will be rejuvenated with nearly Rs 100 crore for medium-sized shipbuilding and repairs, including restoration of the 130-metre dry dock and construction of a 120-metre slipway, while the Damodar facility at Kidderpore Docks, comprising an old workshop and 25-metre waterfront, will receive around Rs 70 crore for medium-sized vessel repairs and construction of electric ferries and other small crafts.

At YIL’s Metal and Steel Factory (MSF), Ishapore, two facilities with a combined investment of over Rs 750 crore will strengthen indigenous metallurgical and defence manufacturing.

The Rs 277.59 crore 3,000-ton Heavy Duty Hydraulic Open Die Forging Press will replace the ageing 2,650-ton press to produce gun barrels, ammunition components and heavy defence forgings, while the Rs 473.84 crore Radial Forging Plant will manufacture super alloy forgings, aerial bomb tubes, ordnance hardware, railway axles and nuclear reactor components.

With Industry 4.0 and energy-efficient technologies, the facilities will enhance high-end manufacturing, reduce import dependence and support the defence, railway and strategic sectors.

Together, these projects will strengthen the capabilities of GRSE and YIL, while supporting the revival of West Bengal’s industrial ecosystem through employment generation and increased opportunities for ancillary industries, particularly MSMEs, the defence minister said.

Among others present at the event were J.P. Dash, Director General Ordnance (C&S); Commodore P.R. Hari, chairman and managing director, GRSE; Vijaykumar Iyer, chairman and managing director, YIL; and senior officials of GRSE and YIL.