Rajnath Singh calls for ‘atmanirbharta’ in defence, says it will act as multiplier in India’s military capabilities

Kolkata: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while calling for the industrial resurgence of West Bengal, laid out the roadmap for India’s development into a global shipbuilding hub.

He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying event for five brownfield expansion projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and Yantra India Ltd (YIL) in Kolkata on Sunday. Singh also laid stress on Atmanirbharta, citing the successful use of indigenous weapons and systems during Operation Sindoor.

“Atmanirbharta acts as a multiplier to battlefield capabilities. Our Prime Minister spoke about Atmanirbharta in his Independence Day address. He said that the country will have to be totally Atmanirbhar in defence by the time the country turns into Viksit Bharat,” the defence minister said.

Both GRSE and YIL are playing important roles in self-reliance in the defence sector, he said. “The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV) that GRSE is building will have nearly 80% indigenous content. The Metal and Steel Factory of YIL is also manufacturing high-quality components for weapons systems. The steel and aluminium that is manufactured at this factory are worth their weight in gold,” Singh said.

The design-to-delivery time in shipbuilding is long, the minister pointed out. For warships, it can take 5-10 years, while for large commercial vessels, it can take 15-20 years. “By the time a ship is finally ready for delivery, technology may have developed to another level. This factor has to be incorporated during the process to ensure that the ships are truly advanced when they are delivered. A global vacuum in shipbuilding exists, and India will have to take advantage of that. We will have to design, build and create Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities,” he said.

Calling MRO a “low-hanging fruit”, Singh pointed to how it requires very little investment, while ensuring good returns. “There are countries that are looking out for both naval and commercial vessels. GRSE has already started exploring the opportunity. As our Prime Minister said during his Independence Day address, our shipbuilders will have to deliver quality products at competitive rates. They will have to go in for aggressive bidding. The profits may look thin at first, but volumes will make up for that,” Singh said.

Regarding the challenges faced by shipbuilders like GRSE in procuring quality spares and components, the defence minister admitted that there has not been private participation to the extent required. He appealed to the industry captains present to come forward and participate in this endeavour that would be profitable.

Singh assured the shipyards of all assistance from the government in this matter. He also spoke on West Bengal and how the Rs 3,420 crore investment will help in the creation of jobs and industrial growth. GRSE would also be able to bid for the Next Generation Destroyers that the Navy aims to procure, he said.

“We want to witness an industrial renaissance in West Bengal. Things are changing after the new government came to power in the state. For years now, the Border Security Force (BSF) had been asking for land from the state government for outposts and fencing. Unfortunately, there was no response. Within just 45 days of coming to power, this government allotted 1,100 acres of land for this important work that will secure the country’s border. The state has a dynamic chief minister now, and things will change in West Bengal,” Singh said.

IANS