Jabalpur, Aug 27 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the new T-72 and T-90 tank overhaul facility at Vehicle Factory Jabalpur will significantly cut the time and logistical costs involved in transporting battle tanks for maintenance, while helping the Army restore them to operational readiness faster.Singh made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 472-crore project at the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ), which is expected to expand India’s capacity to overhaul and upgrade its armoured fleet.Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with other ministers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, joined the ceremony. “The plant at Jabalpur, being closer to Army field formations, will significantly reduce transportation time and logistical requirements for tank overhaul and maintenance, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and readiness,” Singh said.The facility will undertake comprehensive overhaul, repair, maintenance and technical upgradation of T-72 and T-90 tanks and will include a modern plant and testing track for their inspection and operational testing.

The project is expected to augment the country’s existing tank overhaul capacity, with the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi in Tamil Nadu currently handling the primary responsibility for overhauling T-72 tanks.In its first phase, VFJ will undertake complete overhaul and upgradation of 12 T-72 tanks annually, according to officials.The project follows a pilot initiative under which VFJ successfully overhauled two T-72 tanks and handed them over to the Army after inspection, repair and replacement of components in accordance with prescribed technical specifications and quality standards.Singh described the project as an important step towards strengthening India’s defence preparedness and advancing self-reliance in defence production. “This project marks an important step towards strengthening our defence preparedness and advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence production,” he said.The project is also expected to strengthen the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem by creating opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in manufacturing, ancillary services and component supply. “The project will also strengthen the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem by creating new opportunities for MSMEs in manufacturing, ancillary services and component supply. This will help develop a robust and resilient defence supply chain and generate new avenues for local industrial growth and employment,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister also highlighted growth in India’s defence production, saying it increased from around Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to nearly Rs 1.80 lakh crore. Defence exports, he said, had risen from about Rs 1,000 crore to nearly Rs 39,000 crore during the period.The government has set a target of taking defence exports beyond Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29.Jabalpur is already home to several major defence production establishments. Four major defence units in the city recorded a combined production value of Rs 4,622 crore in 2025-26, while VFJ alone registered production of around Rs 1,056 crore.The new facility is expected to further consolidate Jabalpur’s position as a key defence manufacturing and maintenance hub and strengthen the Army’s ability to keep its armoured fleet operational.

/IANS