Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited (YIL) have embarked on a major expansion of their shipbuilding and defence manufacturing capabilities in West Bengal, with the foundation stone laid for five brownfield expansion projects.
The foundation ceremonies were led by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari, at GRSE Bhavan, Kolkata, on August 23. The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Government of West Bengal, GRSE and YIL.
The expansion includes three major projects of GRSE, aimed at strengthening the shipyard’s manufacturing capacity and infrastructure to meet the growing requirements of India’s maritime forces and other defence and commercial maritime stakeholders. The projects are also aligned with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The Bhumi Pujan ceremonies for the projects were conducted simultaneously at Kidderpore, Shalimar, Raichak and Ishapore in West Bengal.
As part of its expansion programme, 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.
Raichak to emerge as major shipbuilding hub
The Raichak facility, spread across 32 acres and featuring a 356-metre waterfront, 96-metre jetty and 8–10 metre draught, will be developed as a major shipbuilding hub with an investment of over ₹2,500 crore.
The facility will include a 200-metre dry dock, slipway, launching pad, jetties and block fabrication facilities. The infrastructure will enable GRSE to construct warships of up to 200 metres in length and commercial vessels of up to 60,000 DWT.
The project is expected to significantly augment GRSE’s capacity for warship construction and refit, while also creating additional capabilities for the construction and repair of small and medium-sized commercial vessels.
Shalimar facility to receive ₹100 crore investment
At Shalimar, the existing 4-acre Timber Pond facility will be rejuvenated with an investment of nearly ₹100 crore. The development will focus on medium-sized shipbuilding and repair activities.
The project includes the restoration of the existing 130-metre dry dock and construction of a 120-metre slipway, further strengthening GRSE’s vessel construction and repair infrastructure.
Kidderpore to support small craft and electric ferry construction
The Damodar facility at Kidderpore Docks, comprising an old workshop and a 25-metre waterfront, will receive an investment of around ₹70 crore.
The upgraded facility will cater to medium-sized vessel repairs and construction, besides supporting the construction of electric ferries and other small crafts.
The combined expansion programme is expected to enhance GRSE’s infrastructure, improve its ability to undertake multiple shipbuilding and repair projects simultaneously, and strengthen West Bengal’s position as a key centre for indigenous shipbuilding and defence manufacturing.
The projects are also expected to contribute to the development of the domestic maritime industrial ecosystem, supporting the Government’s broader objective of increasing indigenous capabilities in defence production and reducing dependence on imports.