‘Days of factory closures over’: Rajnath Singh unveils Rs 3,500-crore defence expansion in Bengal

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the cornerstone for five defence manufacturing projects in West Bengal on Sunday, marking a departure from an era of factory closures. The ₹3,500 crore worth of projects - three for Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and two for Yantra India Limited (YIL) - aim to bolster defence manufacturing, shipbuilding, and precision engineering in the state.

Speaking virtually from Kolkata, Singh said the state was embarking on a "new development renaissance" and the days of factory closures were over. The projects, set to expand GRSE's capacity for warship construction and repair, are anticipated to create opportunities for ancillary industries and MSMEs. The Raichak facility will handle warships up to 200 metres in length, allowing GRSE to bid for next-generation destroyers.

YIL's projects will modernise its Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore, producing specialised metals for heavy artillery and naval weapons. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari hailed Singh's vision, stating that the investments would strengthen GRSE and revive Bengal's industrial ecosystem through job creation and ancillary industry growth.

Singh urged GRSE to leverage its expanded capacity to compete aggressively in domestic and international markets, positioning India as a preferred supplier. The projects align with the government's push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with Singh emphasizing the importance of indigenous weapons and platforms. The expansion also presents an opportunity for India to become a major global shipbuilding hub as demand for naval and commercial vessels rises while capacity in traditional shipbuilding nations declines.