Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays foundation for 5 expansion projects of GRSE, Yantra India

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

"We have proven that Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) is not merely a policy; Aatmanirbharta is a multiplier of battlefield capability. In this endeavor, the roles of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited are going to be extremely important," Singh said.

"The Ministry of Defence, our labs, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and private stakeholders will work together to ensure that our armed forces do not fall short in any way when it comes to equipping themselves with indigenous platforms. I can say this with complete confidence," Singh said.


In a significant milestone for India’s shipbuilding & defence manufacturing sector, "bhumipujan" was done for projects worth Rs 3500 crore.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, "There will be a total Rs 3500 crore investments in bengal. The previous government did not work with the previous government. Now the double engine is functioning in full swing. In 2047, when India will be Vikshit Bharat, Bengal will become Vikshit by that time."

"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, GRSE said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhiakri, West bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Dr JP Dash, DG Ordnance (C&S), Cmde PR Hari, Chairman & Managing Director-GRSE, Vijaykumar Iyer, Chairman & Managing Director, YIL were present at the "bhumi pujan" ceremony.

"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, and also the construction and repair of small and medium-sized commercial vessels, the company said.


"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 ₹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 ₹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 ₹70 crore for medium-sized vessel repairs and construction of electric ferries and other small crafts."

These projects will strengthen the capabilities of GRSE, while supporting the revival of West Bengal’s industrial ecosystem through employment generation and increased opportunities for ancillary industries, particularly MSMEs, he added.