Mohammad Asif Khan

The government of India announced the establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in 2018 with the primary goal of consolidating and strengthening the nation’s defence manufacturing capabilities.

BRAHMOS is one of the investors in UPDIC

This initiative aimed at reducing import dependence by stimulating domestic production within the defence sector. Two initial DICs were created, one in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and another in Tamil Nadu (TN). Each corridor encompassed several strategically chosen nodal points that provide a supportive environment for defence industries. These locations were designed to foster the development of a holistic ecosystem, encompassing infrastructure, a skilled workforce and access to advanced technologies.

The DICs aimed to create a nurturing environment to attract and support domestic companies, including private firms, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, to actively participate in defence manufacturing. The DICs are expected to generate economic growth within the host states.

Local businesses will benefit from fulfilling the needs of the armed forces, leading to job creation and increased investment. Additionally, a robust domestic supply chain for defence equipment is crucial for the Indian armed forces. The DICs aimed to improve their operational efficiency by ensuring timely availability of critical equipment.

In the years leading up to 2018, India’s defence sector faced a significant challenge—excessive reliance on imports for military equipment. This dependence made the country vulnerable to external factors, impacting price, delivery timelines, and even potentially limiting access to crucial supplies. Furthermore, India’s domestic defence industry lacked the infrastructure, technology and investment required to manufacture a substantial portion of its own military needs. This resulted in a scattered production landscape, hindering collaboration and efficient use of resources.

The UP DIC

The UP DIC spans six locations across Uttar Pradesh, each focusing on specific areas like aerospace and defence manufacturing. The corridor is planned across six nodes, namely—Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Aligarh and Chitrakoot, which spreads across the central, eastern, and western regions of Uttar Pradesh and along the Golden Quadrilateral connecting Delhi to Kolkata, supported by networks of expressways.

The project had an encouraging start with the announcement of investments worth over INR 3,700 crores in defence production at a meeting organised in Aligarh on 11 August 2018. The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Develop