Rajnath Singh Launches Rs 472-Crore Tank Overhaul Facility

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for a Rs 472-crore T-72 and T-90 tank overhaul facility at the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur on August 27. The project, operated by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, is designed to overhaul 80 tanks annually. This capacity supplements the 150-tank capacity of the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi to help the Indian Army meet its total annual requirement of 230 overhauls.

The new facility includes a modern plant and a testing track, which the government expects will reduce transportation time and logistical costs by placing maintenance closer to Army field formations. Singh described the initiative as a step toward self-reliance, asserting that tanks remain an iron wall on borders despite the emergence of AI and drones.

During the ceremony, which was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Singh highlighted that India's defence production reached approximately Rs 1.80 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, with exports nearing Rs 39,000 crore. The project is expected to stimulate the local economy by creating supply chain opportunities for MSMEs providing electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical components.