The Ashok Leyland electric vehicle manufacturing plant was inaugurated in Lucknow on Friday, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighting its role in strengthening the defence industrial corridor being developed in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present during the visit.
During his inspection of the facility, the Defence Minister reviewed light tactical vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, mine-protected vehicles and logistics drones manufactured at the plant.
Rajnath Singh stated that the Union government has established a dedicated defence corridor in Uttar Pradesh, under which defence-related weapons and ammunition are being manufactured in Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Chitrakoot and Aligarh. He said investments exceeding Rs 34,000 crore have already been made in the corridor, with major companies setting up operations, leading to employment generation and direct benefits for local residents.
Emphasising the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Defence Minister said India is now manufacturing its own defence equipment. He noted that domestic defence production stood at Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 and has now increased to Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Defence exports currently stand at Rs 25,000 crore, with a target of increasing them to Rs 50,000 crore by 2030.
Rajnath Singh said Uttar Pradesh is playing a significant role in these strategic reforms. He referred to the contribution of the BrahMos factory in Lucknow during Operation Sindoor and stated that the state government has introduced aerospace and defence manufacturing and employment promotion policies to position Uttar Pradesh as a major centre for large-scale defence equipment production.
The Defence Minister said the Ashok Leyland electric vehicle plant will contribute to both defence manufacturing and the state’s economic growth. The facility is expected to produce 2,500 electric vehicles annually. While the project had a planned completion timeline of 60 months, it was completed in 18 months.
He said the plant will generate local employment and accelerate industrialisation in the state, adding that Uttar Pradesh is increasingly contributing to national development through industrial growth.
Rajnath Singh said Uttar Pradesh has entered a new phase of industrial development. He stated that the defence and industrial units established in the state will strengthen its economy, increase investment and production, and provide direct benefits to citizens through employment opportunities for local industries and artisans.
