West Bengal govt allots 256 acres to Jupiter Defence for large-scale integrated defence manufacturing facility
The facility is expected to become West Bengal’s first major defence manufacturing unit, creating an industrial base for defence production while generating employment and opportunities for local businesses and ancillary industries.
The land allotment was announced at the ‘Allotment of Land for Industry’ programme organised by the Department of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal, at Milan Mela Prangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.
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Murari Lal Lohia, chairman emeritus, Jupiter Wagons Ltd, thanked the state government for its support and said the allotment reflected the renewed focus on industrial development in West Bengal.
Jupiter Defence is part of the Jupiter Wagons group, which has been expanding beyond its traditional railway manufacturing business into defence and other industrial segments.
“This allotment is a testament to the government’s commitment to industrialisation and to building an investment-friendly environment, and it reflects the remarkable transformation under way in West Bengal’s industrial landscape,” said Vivek Lohia, managing director, Jupiter Wagons Ltd.The project, he said, would strengthen India’s domestic defence capabilities while supporting the wider industrial ecosystem, local businesses and employment opportunities in the region.
“We believe this project will strengthen India’s domestic defence capabilities while supporting the wider industrial ecosystem, local businesses and employment opportunities in the region,” Lohia said.
The development comes as India seeks to deepen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports, with private-sector companies increasingly looking to expand their presence across the defence production ecosystem.
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Lohia also acknowledged the support of the central government and said the project was aligned with the broader objective of strengthening India’s manufacturing and defence capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The state government has been seeking to position industrial parks outside Kolkata as hubs for manufacturing and investment, with Purulia emerging as one of the locations for large industrial projects.
Jupiter Wagons’ move into defence manufacturing marks a significant diversification for the group and could create opportunities for a broader supplier ecosystem around the proposed facility.
