Guwahati, Nov 9 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the proposed defence park in Morigaon district will bring arms manufacturing closer to the country’s eastern frontiers and create employment opportunities for skilled youth.
“Bharat ke Raksha ke liye samarpit (dedicated to the security of Bharat): Defence Park, Nellie, Assam,” Sarma said in a social media post, referring to the proposed facility in the central Assam district.
“Our planned Defence Park will put arms manufacturing closer to our eastern frontiers, shortening supply lines, enabling faster replenishment while creating skilled jobs for our youth,” he added.
The state Cabinet on November 3 approved the allotment of around 1,984 acres at Nellie for setting up the state’s first defence park.
A short video clip shared by the chief minister along with his post said the state was moving “at missile speed” and that the next big move would be defence manufacturing.
“We have stood guard for India; now, we will build for India,” it said.
Sarma had taken up the proposal for setting up a defence corridor in the state with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in 2024.
He had said Assam’s case was at an “advanced stage of consideration, but it is likely to take some time as the issue is sensitive”.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the industries department will be allotted land for the development of the project.
It said while several parts of the country have emerged as major destinations for defence manufacturing, Assam had long remained outside this rapidly expanding sector.
The proposed defence park is expected to address this longstanding gap and open new avenues for industrial growth in the state, in alignment with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the CMO said.
The state government will soon organise roadshows and undertake a series of promotional initiatives to showcase Assam’s growing industrial potential and investment opportunities to attract leading domestic and international investors, it said.
It added that the state government has already notified the Assam Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy, 2025, on February 23, 2025.
Effective for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the official gazette, the policy covers a wide range of strategic sectors, including aircraft manufacturing, advanced defence equipment, small arms and ammunition, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and drones, avionics and simulation systems, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, defence-related research and development, as well as defence start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Assam Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy, 2025, together with the proposed defence park, will provide a strong foundation for attracting leading aerospace and defence companies to the state, the CMO statement added.
(PTI News)
