Rajnath Singh unveils Rs 3,500-crore defence expansion in West Bengal

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually laid the foundation stones for five expansion projects worth approximately Rs 3,500 crore for Yantra India Ltd and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The expansion includes lease agreements for two shipyards on the banks of the Hooghly river and a 32-acre riverside facility at Raichak. Singh stated that India has a golden opportunity to become a global hub for shipbuilding, repairs, and maritime services by bridging the gap between global demand and production. He emphasized that India can leverage its workforce and new generation of engineers to export designs and modernize manufacturing capacity. Singh noted that GRSE has built over 100 ships and is currently building a commercial vessel for a German company. During the event, Suvendu Adhikari thanked the minister for the investment and attributed the progress to a double engine government. While a center-leaning source framed the event as an end to the days of factory closures, a center-right source focused on the strategic global opportunity for India to dominate the maritime industry.