Lucknow,

April 8 (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday handed over the

allotment letter for 75 hectares of land in the Chitrakoot node of the Uttar

Pradesh Defense Industrial Corridor to Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing

Director of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). This initiative is considered an

important institutional step towards the systematic and phased development of

the Chitrakoot Defense Node, which will strengthen the defense manufacturing

infrastructure in the state and provide new impetus to the expansion of the

industrial base in the Bundelkhand region.

Speaking

on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that this initiative will play a key

role in establishing a strong and credible identity for Uttar Pradesh in the

defense manufacturing sector. It will also provide a new impetus to the overall

economic and industrial development of the Bundelkhand region. Strategically

located in central India, the Chitrakoot node, with its excellent logistical

connectivity and geographical advantage, is becoming an emerging hub for

defense production, which will prove to be a key driver of investment, job

creation, and high-technology-based industrial development in the future.

Yogi

said that under this project, Bharat Electronics Limited will invest

approximately Rs. 562.5 crore to establish an advanced manufacturing unit for

the production of state-of-the-art radar and air defense systems. This

initiative will not only strengthen high-technology production in the defense

sector but will also provide a new direction for the expansion of industrial

efficiency and technological capabilities in the state. As a result, more than

300 direct employment opportunities are expected to be created, while extensive

indirect employment generation in ancillary and related sectors will open new

opportunities for local youth.

The

Chief Minister said that the establishment of this high-technology unit in

Chitrakoot will create new quality employment opportunities for local youth,

significantly reducing the need to migrate to other areas for employment. This

project will not only strengthen the regional economy but will also

institutionally encourage the development of technically skilled human

resources, research, and innovation, thereby bolstering the creation of a

modern industrial ecosystem in the state.

He

stated that this initiative will decisively strengthen indigenous production

capabilities in the defense sector, providing a solid foundation for the

resolve of a self-reliant India. This will reduce import dependence

and enable the creation of a strong, self-reliant, and integrated defense industrial

ecosystem in the country. Additionally, this project will accelerate the

development of ancillary and MSME-based industries and create new opportunities

for advanced technological collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer,

helping to establish the state as a major center for defense production.

The

Chief Minister also noted that Chitrakoot, long renowned for its rich cultural

and spiritual heritage, is now poised to establish a new and powerful identity

in the field of defense manufacturing. The proposed advanced industrial unit

will not only provide a new impetus to regional development but will also

concretely realize the state's resolve for balanced, inclusive, and

multifaceted development, establishing a strong synergy between traditional

heritage and modern industrial progress.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi