Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) announced a ₹2,670-crore capacity expansion across three West Bengal facilities on August 24, 2026, according to a BSE filing. The Navratna defence public sector undertaking said the programme covers Raichak, the Timber Pond facility at Shalimar and the Damodar facility at Kidderpore Docks.

The GRSE capacity expansion is intended to strengthen indigenous shipbuilding, support future growth and enable execution of larger and more complex projects. The planned capital expenditure comprises ₹2,500 crore at Raichak, ₹100 crore at Shalimar and ₹70 crore at Kidderpore.

Raichak to become shipbuilding hub

GRSE said it has signed lease agreements with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, for two small shipyards on either bank of the Hooghly and a 32-acre riverside property at Raichak. The leased facilities are intended to enhance warship construction and refit capabilities, alongside the construction and repair of small and medium-sized commercial vessels.

The Raichak property has a 356-metre waterfront, a 96-metre jetty and draught of 8–10 metres. Planned infrastructure includes a 200-metre dry dock, slipway, launching pad, jetties and block fabrication facilities. GRSE said the hub would be capable of building warships up to 200 metres and commercial vessels up to 60,000 deadweight tonnes.

Facility Planned expenditure Proposed capability
Raichak ₹2,500 crore Warships and commercial vessels
Timber Pond, Shalimar ₹100 crore Medium-sized shipbuilding and repairs
Damodar, Kidderpore ₹70 crore Vessel repairs, electric ferries and small craft

Shalimar and Kidderpore projects

At the four-acre Timber Pond facility, GRSE plans to restore the 130-metre dry dock and construct a 120-metre slipway for medium-sized shipbuilding and repair work. The Damodar facility, comprising an old workshop and a 25-metre waterfront, is planned for medium-sized vessel repairs and the construction of electric ferries and other small craft.

Foundation ceremonies for GRSE's three projects were held on August 23, 2026, alongside two Yantra India Limited projects. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation for the five brownfield projects at GRSE Bhavan in Kolkata. GRSE said its projects would help meet requirements from maritime forces and other defence and maritime stakeholders, while supporting the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programmes.

Source: BSE corporate announcement.