The much-anticipated Defence Corridor, spanning 206 hectares, has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on February 26, according to sources.
Notably, the Defence Corridor features the nearly completed Small Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Plant, established by the Adani Group in the Saadh Defence Corridor of Narwal Tehsil in Kanpur.
In addition to the ammunition manufacturing plant, a storehouse has been constructed within the Defence Corridor.
The Adani Group acquired approximately 200 hectares of land from locals in Saadh village for this project.
Moreover, plans are underway to construct a helipad in close proximity to the Defence Corridor.
Significance of Uttar Pradesh in India’s Economy
Uttar Pradesh, the fourth largest state in India, boasts the third largest economy within the nation.
With a staggering population exceeding 200 million, UP holds the highest number of available labor force and stands as one of the top five manufacturing states in India.
Additionally, the state takes pride in leading the country in terms of the number of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and secures the second position in the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) ranking.
Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC)
The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC) is a transformative project aimed at curbing India’s reliance on foreign imports in the Aerospace and Defence sectors.
This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s vision to bolster indigenous manufacturing capabilities, fostering self-reliance and promoting economic growth.
It is being set up by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
It consists of the following six nodal points with the potential to develop defence industries in the corridor:
- Agra
- Aligarh
- Chitrakoot
- Jhansi
- Kanpur
- Lucknow
Noteworthy, as per the data by the Ministry of Defence, Rs 2,502 Crores has been invested so far in Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UP DIC) as on 31st May 2023; while Rs 10,000 Crores investment is being targeted till 2024.
Following are the investments announced in Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor:-
