Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the UP Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC) is rapidly progressing to enhance India’s self-reliance in manufacturing of defence products. Spanning six nodes across the state, the Kanpur node is witnessing the highest investment.

Giving this information here on Sunday, an official spokesman of the government claimed that the Kanpur node will manufacture products related to the defence sector on the largest scale, including small and large weapons, ammunition and state-of-the-art military attire for the nation’s army. Additionally, equipment related to space science will also be manufactured here.

Over 218 hectares of land in Narwal tehsil of Kanpur is being developed as part of the Defence Industrial Corridor. According to officials of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), 24 companies have expressed interest in making investments, with five already commencing operations. The largest name among them is the Adani Group, which started its factory in the Kanpur node in February, investing Rs 1,500 crore. This project aims to manufacture a wide range of small, medium and large-caliber ammunition.

Additionally, Modern Material and Sciences Private Limited has begun manufacturing advanced clothing for soldiers with an investment of Rs 38 crore. Furthermore, Netra Global Private Limited will produce artillery shells with an investment of Rs 360 crore, and Anant Technologies will manufacture equipment related to LEO (low earth orbit) and GEO (geostationary} satellites with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore.

According to UPEIDA officials, more than 210 hectares of land has been allotted for the Kanpur node of the Defence Industrial Corridor. Expectations are high for creating over 18,000 jobs from the Kanpur node alone. So far, investments totaling more than Rs 1,700 crore have been materialised, resulting in immediate employment for 2,500 youths.

The Yogi government plans to spend over Rs 62 crore on infrastructure development in the Kanpur node. Approximately Rs 33 crore worth of projects have already been completed, while construction is underway for projects exceeding Rs 16 crore. Tender processes are also underway for projects valued at over Rs 13 crore.