The upcoming Defense Corridor in UP will host not only large companies manufacturing drones and missiles, but also firms that manufacture cartridges for weapons used by security forces such as assault and sniper rifles and CQB carbines, polymer frames Frame for pistol and safety equipment.
Two companies Delta Combat Systems Limited (Delta) and VeriWin Defense Private Limited are investing Rs 215 crore in the Jhansi node of the Defense Corridor to set up their units for manufacturing small arms.
Delta Combat Systems Limited has been allotted 15 hectares to set up its plant at a cost of Rs 150 crore. It will make cartridges for assault, sniper and INSAS rifles as well as CQB carbines and other weapons being used by the armed forces. CQB carbines are very effective as they can hit a target within a range of 200 meters whereas the INSAS rifle, which is modeled on the AK-47, was used extensively during the Kargil war.
The Yogi government has allotted land to companies to manufacture BrahMos missiles and drones at the Lucknow and Aligarh nodes of the Defense Corridor respectively and the construction is expected to start soon.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the creation of a Defense Corridor in UP during the Investors’ Summit in January 2018. Following this, the UP government decided to set up corridors covering the districts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Agra and Aligarh. .
This was followed by the signing of MoUs worth Rs 50,000 crore with domestic and foreign companies manufacturing defense products during the Defense Expo held in Lucknow in February 2020.
According to officials, 29 companies had submitted their proposals to the government to set up their factories at the Aligarh node, out of which 19 reputed firms have been allotted 55.40 hectares of land by the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). Companies are setting up their plants at a cost of Rs 1245.75 crore.
Similarly, 11, 6 and 8 companies had submitted their proposals to set up their factories in Lucknow, Jhansi and Kanpur nodes.
The most prominent companies setting up their factories in the Aligarh node of the corridor are Allen & Alvan Pvt Ltd and Encore Research LLP, which are manufacturing the most sophisticated drones. Companies are investing Rs 550 crore to set up the plant.
According to UPEIDA officials, the corridor will not only give a new identity to UP but will also lead the country towards self-reliance in defense equipment production, which was unimaginable four-and-a-half years ago before Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assumed power. In the Defense Corridor, many international companies will set up their plants to manufacture advanced weapons.
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here
.