Lucknow,

18 Oct (HS): A new chapter of self-reliant India was written in the capital

Lucknow on Saturday when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi

Adityanath flagged off the first batch of supersonic BrahMos missiles produced

at the Lucknow unit of BrahMos Aerospace Limited. Amid chants of 'Bharat Mata

ki Jai', the ceremony reverberated with pride, glory and patriotism as the

first batch of missiles took off.

Addressing

the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the BrahMos is the most

capable weapon for defending not only India but also our friendly countries

around the world. He added that the BrahMos, developed in Lucknow due to the

efforts of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has become a means of the nation's

prosperity. Only when a person is safe can one sleep peacefully. The missile

made in Lucknow guarantees the safety and prosperity of the entire nation.

Addressing

the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that it is a joyous moment to

see Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India pledge realized in

Lucknow. He said that this missile not only ensures India's security but is

also the most capable weapon to protect its friendly nations in the world.

Through BrahMos, India has been able to meet both its own needs and the

security needs of its friendly nations. For this, I express my heartfelt

gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Referring

to the first Investors Summit in 2018, Chief Minister Yogi said that it was in

Lucknow that the Prime Minister announced two Defense Manufacturing Corridors,

one of which went to Uttar Pradesh. Work on the Defense Manufacturing Corridor

is progressing successfully in six nodes in Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow, Kanpur,

Agra, Aligarh, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot. Projects such as BrahMos in Lucknow,

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Jhansi, and AK-203 in Amethi are underway. So

far, more than 2,500 acres of land has been made available in these six nodes,

creating jobs for more than 15,000 young people.

Uttar

Pradesh is fulfilling both the security and employment needs of the country: CM

He

said that the BrahMos Center employs young people with ITI, polytechnic, and

engineering degrees, fulfilling both the national security and employment

needs. This is the foundation of a self-reliant India. Yogi explained that the

state government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and IIT BHU, is establishing

two Centers of Excellence, which will promote defense technology and

innovation. He said that this land of Lucknow is now simultaneously straddling

all four dimensions of national defense, industry, employment, and development.

This is the changing face of Uttar Pradesh and the identity of a self-reliant

India.

The

land of Lucknow is now spewing gold: The Chief Minister said that today DG BrahMos

handed over a GST cheque of Rs. 40 crore. Every year, 100 BrahMos missiles will

be manufactured, increasing to 150, and GST will be Rs. 150-200 crore. This is

like getting the mango and the seed for nothing. Lucknow's land is

now yielding gold. It is fulfilling the national security needs and

strengthening the state's economy. He also assured DRDO of providing more land

if needed.

Work

is in progress on two Centres of Excellence with IIT Kanpur and BHU: Yogi

mentioned the new 56,000-acre industrial corridor in Jhansi and said that a

node is being developed on the expressway in Chitrakoot. Work is underway on

two Centers of Excellence with IIT Kanpur and BHU. He reiterated his resolve to

transform Make in India into Make for the World. He said that BrahMos,

developed in Lucknow due to the efforts of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has

become a means of the country's prosperity. Only when people are safe can they

sleep peacefully. The missile made in Lucknow guarantees the safety and

prosperity of the entire nation.

Various

programs were organized along with the flag off ceremony: During the event, the

Defense Minister and Chief Minister also inaugurated the Booster Building, a

significant step towards expanding the BrahMos project's capabilities. They

also witnessed a demonstration of the booster docking process. Presentations

were also given on the airframe and avionics, the PDI (Pre-Dispatch Inspection)

in the Warhead Building, and the BrahMos simulator equipment. In addition,

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath planted a

Rudraksh tree on the campus. A storage trolley demonstration and a

demonstration of the mobile autonomous launcher were also held. During the

event, DG (BrahMos) Dr. Jaytirth R. Joshi presented a cheque and GST bill to

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

On

this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal,

Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Sanjay Seth, Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Nandi, Mayor Sushma

Kharwal, MLA Rajeshwar Singh along with many public representatives and

officials of Defence Research and Development Organisation were present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi