New Delhi/Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited (YIL) have laid the foundation for five brownfield expansion projects involving a combined investment of more than Rs 4,000 crore, aimed at expanding shipbuilding, warship construction and defence manufacturing capabilities in West Bengal.
Follow The PSUWatch Channel on WhatsApp
The foundation stones for the projects have been laid by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at GRSE Bhavan in Kolkata on Sunday.
Of the five projects, three are being undertaken by GRSE and two by YIL. The projects are expected to augment manufacturing capacity, strengthen indigenous defence production and create opportunities for ancillary industries and MSMEs in the state.
GRSE's expansion projects are spread across Kidderpore, Shalimar and Raichak. The defence shipbuilder has signed lease agreements with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata for two small shipyards on either bank of the Hooghly, besides a 32-acre riverside property at Raichak.
The Raichak facility is the largest of the three GRSE projects and will involve an investment of more than Rs 2,500 crore. With a 356-metre waterfront, 96-metre jetty and 8-10 metre draught, the facility is planned as a shipbuilding hub with a 200-metre dry dock, slipway, launching pad, jetties and block fabrication facilities.
As per official statement, the facility will be capable of constructing warships up to 200 metres in length and commercial vessels of up to 60,000 DWT. It is also expected to strengthen GRSE's capacity for warship construction and refit as well as the construction and repair of commercial vessels.
At Shalimar, GRSE will invest nearly Rs 100 crore to rejuvenate its four-acre Timber Pond facility. The project includes restoration of the existing 130-metre dry dock and construction of a 120-metre slipway for medium-sized shipbuilding and repair activities.
The Damodar facility at Kidderpore Docks, comprising an old workshop and a 25-metre waterfront, will receive around Rs 70 crore. It will be developed for medium-sized vessel repairs and construction of electric ferries and other small craft.
YIL's two projects at its Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore will involve a combined investment of more than Rs 750 crore and are aimed at strengthening India's indigenous metallurgical and defence manufacturing capabilities.
The Rs 277.59-crore Heavy Duty Hydraulic Open Die Forging Press, with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes, will replace the existing 2,650-tonne press. It is intended to manufacture gun barrels, ammunition components and other heavy defence forgings.
Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN
The second project, involving Rs 473.84 crore, is a Radial Forging Plant for manufacturing super-alloy forgings, aerial bomb tubes, ordnance hardware, railway axles and nuclear reactor components. The facilities will incorporate Industry 4.0 and energy-efficient technologies, with the objective of improving high-end manufacturing capabilities and reducing import dependence.
The combined expansion programme is expected to support employment generation and provide increased business opportunities for ancillary industries, particularly MSMEs, thereby contributing to the broader industrial ecosystem in West Bengal.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the expansion would strengthen the state's industrial base and expressed confidence in GRSE's ability to contribute to India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Singh highlighted GRSE's experience in building naval and commercial platforms and noted that the shipyard has delivered more than 800 platforms. He also referred to GRSE's recent commissioning of three classes of warships and its construction of cargo ships for a German company as examples of India's growing shipbuilding capabilities.
The Defence Minister also expressed confidence that YIL's new facilities would further strengthen India's defence manufacturing ecosystem.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured the Centre and GRSE of the state government's support for the expansion projects. He said the state would continue working towards strengthening West Bengal's industrial development as India moves towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
(PSU Watch is India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy. 👉 Click to join our channel now: PSUWatch WhatsApp Channel. Prefer LinkedIn? Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN. Click to stay connected on Twitter here and stay updated)