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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.
Raksha Mantri emphasised that Operation Sindoor demonstrated the critical importance of indigenous weapons & platforms, with the world witnessing the prowess of Indian defence systems. He stated that moving forward, the country’s labs, PSUs, and private stakeholders, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, will leave no stone unturned to equip the defence forces with indigenous platforms. “Self-reliance is not merely a policy; it is a force multiplier for battlefield capability. In this endeavor, the roles of GRSE and YIL will be crucial,” he added.

Commending GRSE for its efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Shri Rajnath Singh 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 percent indigenous content. This demonstrates that we are rapidly reducing our dependence on foreign sources,” he added, while extending congratulations to the shipyard for achieving the ‘Navratna’ status.