India can become global shipbuilding hub: Rajnath after laying foundation of 5 projects in Bengal worth Rs 3500crore

Rajnath, Suvendu Adhikari virtually launch Rs 3,500cr defence expansion projects in Bengal

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that India has the capacity to become a global ship design and ship-building hub and must take advantage of the demand-supply gap in the international market. The minister said this while addressing a gathering after he, along with West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, performed the ground-breaking ceremony virtually from Kolkata of five expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India (YIL) that will entail an investment of Rs 3,500 crore. The projects will bolster the nation’s shipbuilding, ship repair, metallurgical and production capabilities, giving a major push towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, Make for the World’ initiatives, the defence ministry said.“The demand for ships – naval, cargo vessels or oil tankers – is increasing across the world. On the other hand, in the past few decades, ship manufacturing has reduced in traditional ship manufacturing countries like UK, USA, Netherlands or France. This is a golden period which India can capture,” Rajnath said, adding India has plans to be placed among the top 10 ship-building nations by 2030 and top 5 by 2047 under its Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.On manufacturing, he said many developed countries are stepping back from labour-intensive shipbuilding due to soaring costs and a shortage of skilled manpower, while India possesses a skilled workforce, a robust steel industry and a strong MSME ecosystem. “If we modernise our manufacturing capacity and adhere to global quality standards, India can emerge as the world’s next major shipbuilding hub,” he said. “Self-reliance is not merely a policy; it is a force multiplier for battlefield capability. In this endeavour, the roles of GRSE and YIL will be crucial,” he said.Rajnath underlined that GRSE’s Raichak facility would provide the capability to build warships up to 200 metres in length and enable the shipyard to bid for next-generation destroyers, while the facilities at Timber Pond in Howrah and the Damodar complex would strengthen the shipbuilding value chain. He said the two forging facilities of YIL would produce high-quality metals for heavy artillery, naval weapons and advanced defence equipment, thereby strengthening the Navy’s operational readiness.Commending GRSE for its efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Rajnath made special mention of the advanced guided-missile frigate INS Dunagiri, which was dedicated to the nation by PM Modi earlier this year. “GRSE has constructed over 800 vessels to date. Even the next-generation offshore patrol vessels, currently under construction, will feature more than 80% indigenous content. This demonstrates that we are rapidly reducing our dependence on foreign sources,” he said. He described YIL as a strong pillar of India’s defence manufacturing capability, expressing hope that the new modern facilities at the metal and steel factory in Ishapore will fully secure the critical supply chain for advanced weapons and strategic components.Calling maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) a “low-hanging fruit” as it requires neither massive capital investment nor an enormous workforce, the defence minister called for India to establish itself as a hub for ship repair and overhaul in the Indian Ocean Region.Terming the ceremony a “historic moment”, CM Adhikari said 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.