Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the upcoming 10,000-ton extrusion press facility at Ordnance Factory, Ambajhari, would mark another major step in India’s drive toward strategic self-reliance in defence manufacturing and further position Nagpur at the centre of the country’s expanding defence production ecosystem. Fadnavis was speaking during the foundation stone unveiling ceremony of the ‘10,000 Tons Extrusion Press’ project at Ordnance Factory, Ambajhari, a unit of Yantra India Ltd, performed by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Calling the project a ‘major milestone’ in India’s indigenous defence ambitions, Fadnavis said the advanced facility would play a critical role in manufacturing high-grade aluminium components required for defence production, aerospace systems, fighter aircraft, drones, unmanned vehicles and other strategic infrastructure projects. “This project will accelerate Nagpur and Vidarbha’s emergence as an important part of India’s defence production ecosystem,” the CM said. “The vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat‘ and ‘Viksit Bharat’ given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now taking concrete shape through such strategic industrial projects.”Referring to ‘Operation Sindoor,’ the chief minister said the operation showcased India’s strategic preparedness and the strength of indigenous technology before the world. “A new India has emerged — one that trusts its own capabilities and is prepared to face every challenge with confidence,” he said, adding that the country was steadily establishing an independent global identity in the defence sector. Yantra India officials said extrusion press technology is essential for producing specialised aluminium structures used in aerospace and defence manufacturing, sectors where India has intensified efforts to reduce import dependence and expand domestic production capacity. The project is expected to strengthen India’s defence manufacturing capabilities while giving fresh industrial momentum to Vidarbha, which has increasingly emerged as a preferred destination for defence and aerospace investments. Chairman and managing director of Yantra India Ltd Vijaykumar Iyer and other dignitaries were present during the event.
