New Delhi:23/8/26:Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, along with West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari, presided over the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for three expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and two of Yantra India Limited (YIL), worth a total investment of approximately Rs 3,500 crore, virtually from GRSE Bhavan in Kolkata on August 23, 2026. The GRSE facilities at Kidderpore in Kolkata, Shalimar in Howrah, and Raichak in South 24-Parganas will bolster the country’s shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities, while the projects at YIL’s Metal and Steel Factory in Ishapore will strengthen indigenous metallurgical and production capabilities.
In his address, Raksha Mantri exuded confidence that these projects will further strengthen Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s spirit of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence, ‘Make in India’, and ‘Make for the World’. “‘Raksha Shakti’ was among the ‘Saptadhara’, the seven streams of power, which PM Modi spoke about during his 2026 Independence Day address from Red Fort. He clearly stated that as we evolve into a developed nation, the defence sector must become fully self-reliant. We cannot remain dependent on any other country. It is our own companies and research institutes that must achieve complete dominance in this sector. These five projects reflect the Government’s vision of ensuring strategic autonomy,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh added that these projects will not only boost defence production but also generate employment opportunities for thousands of people, as well as for MSMEs and allied industries. “In a sense, the projects are heralding a new chapter in West Bengal’s socio-economic progress,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari termed the Bhumi Pujan as a historic moment. He stated that the expansion projects will not only enhance the capacities of GRSE and YIL, but also bring about a resurgence in West Bengal’s industrial sector. The projects will generate jobs and provide greater opportunities for ancillary industries, including MSMEs, he added.
Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal Shri Manoj Agarwal; Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar; Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE Cmde PR Hari; CMD, YIL Shri Vijaykumar Iyer, and other senior officials of Department of Defence Production, GRSE and YIL were present on the occasion.