Lucknow, April 8: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday handed over the allotment letter for 75 hectares of land at the Chitrakoot node of the Uttar Pradesh Defense Industrial Corridor to Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of the 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.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that this initiative will play a vital role in establishing a strong and credible identity for Uttar Pradesh in the defense manufacturing sector and will also provide new impetus to the overall economic and industrial development of the Bundelkhand region. Strategically located in central India, the Chitrakoot node is becoming an emerging hub for defense production due to its excellent logistical connectivity and geographical advantage, which will prove to be a key driver of investment, job creation, and high-technology-based industrial development in the future.
Yogi stated that under this project, Bharat Electronics Limited will establish an advanced manufacturing unit to manufacture state-of-the-art radar and air defense systems, with an investment of approximately โน562.5 crore. This initiative will not only strengthen high-technology production in the defense sector but will also provide a new impetus to the expansion of industrial efficiency and technological capabilities in the state. This is expected to create over 300 direct jobs, while extensive indirect employment generation in ancillary and allied sectors will open up new opportunities for local youth.
Chief Minister stated 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 regions 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 giving impetus to 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 commitment to 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. Furthermore, the project will accelerate the development of ancillary and MSME-based industries and create new opportunities for advanced technological collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer, which will help establish the state as a major hub in defense production.
Yogi 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 defense manufacturing sector. This proposed advanced industrial unit will not only accelerate regional development but also concretely realize the state’s commitment to balanced, inclusive, and multifaceted development, establishing a strong synergy between traditional heritage and modern industrial progress.