In a significant milestone for India’s shipbuilding and defense manufacturing sector, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, laid the foundation for five brownfield expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a Navratna Defense PSU, and Yantra India Limited (YIL), at GRSE Bhavan, Kolkata, on August 23, 2026.
The ceremony was also attended by Manoj Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal; Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Defense Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India; Dr JP Dash, DG Ordnance (C&S); Cmde PR Hari, Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE; Vijaykumar Iyer, Chairman and Managing Director, YIL; along with senior officials of GRSE and YIL.
The three GRSE projects 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 Atmanirbhar 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 craft.
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.
Rajnath Singh expressed his happiness over the expansion of industry in West Bengal, stating that the foundation of this confidence lies in the national security of the country’s borders. He congratulated the Chief Minister of West Bengal for taking Bengal forward with confidence. He said he has no doubt GRSE will emerge as “The Great GRSE,” as the shipyard is always ready to accept any challenge to make the country self-reliant, and congratulated GRSE on the triple commissioning of three classes of warships by the Prime Minister, all of which were built by GRSE. He highlighted that GRSE has extensive experience in the construction of naval and commercial platforms, having delivered over 800 platforms, adding that with the construction of cargo ships for a German company, GRSE is demonstrating the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.” He also expressed confidence that YIL’s new facilities will further strengthen the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal committed to extending all possible cooperation to work together with GRSE, while acknowledging the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in rebuilding Bengal. He said that when India becomes a developed nation by 2047, West Bengal will also develop, adding, “With this vision and this mantra, we will continue to move forward.”
