SOURCE: AFI
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), a leading defence public sector undertaking headquartered in Kolkata, is charting an ambitious expansion plan to meet the surging demand for ships in India’s defence and commercial sectors, as well as export markets. The company, known for its advanced shipbuilding capabilities, is exploring the establishment of a greenfield shipbuilding plant outside Kolkata, marking a significant step in its growth strategy. This move comes as GRSE ramps up its capacity to construct 24 ships concurrently, up from 20 earlier in 2024, with plans to further scale to 28 by the end of 2025 through the revival of defunct facilities and long-term leasing of dry docks.
India’s maritime sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, fueled by the government’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and increasing global demand for commercial vessels. GRSE, a key player in constructing warships, patrol vessels, and commercial ships, has seen its order book swell, necessitating a strategic rethink of its production capacity.
“With the current capacity and even if we expand within Kolkata, we still will not be able to meet the demand that is going to come in the next five to ten years. So we need to expand beyond Kolkata,” said Commodore P R Hari, Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, in an interview with The Telegraph on the sidelines of an event organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce. He revealed that the company has identified potential locations on both the east and west coasts of India for the new greenfield facility, with a final decision expected within the next six months.
GRSE’s current infrastructure in Kolkata, comprising multiple shipyards and facilities, has been optimized to handle 24 ships concurrently, a notable increase from its earlier capacity of 20. To further bolster its capabilities, the company is pursuing a two-pronged approach:
- Revival of Defunct Facilities: GRSE plans to refurbish and reactivate some of its underutilized or dormant facilities in Kolkata, enhancing operational efficiency without requiring significant new investments.
- Leasing Dry Docks: By securing long-term leases for dry docks from other agencies, GRSE aims to expand its shipbuilding capacity to 28 vessels by the end of 2025. This move will provide additional space for constructing and repairing ships, addressing immediate demand pressures.
Despite these efforts, Commodore Hari emphasized that Kolkata’s geographical and infrastructural constraints limit the company’s ability to fully capitalize on future opportunities. The proposed greenfield plant outside the city is envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility capable of handling large-scale projects, including next-generation warships and advanced commercial vessels.
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