BrahMos production in Lucknow to yield ₹135 crore GST revenue annually: CM Yogi
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday revealed that the annual manufacture of approximately 150 BrahMos missiles at the Lucknow facility will generate nearly ₹135 crore in GST revenue for the state each year. Speaking at the concluding session of the three-day Digital Democracy Dialogue 'Triveni' in Lucknow, he underscored the strategic and economic dividends of the state's growing role in India's defence manufacturing ecosystem.
BrahMos Facility and the Defence Corridor
The Chief Minister said the Uttar Pradesh Government provided nearly 200 acres of land free of cost for the BrahMos missile manufacturing unit, set up under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that the first BrahMos missile produced at the facility was deployed operationally against Pakistan within three days of rolling out. 'What is the value of land when compared to national security?' he remarked.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Manufacturing Corridor, defence production hubs have taken shape across Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot. While initial investment projections stood between ₹20,000 crore and ₹25,000 crore, investment proposals worth ₹35,000 crore have already been received — significantly outpacing early estimates.
From Mafia Encroachment to Forensic Institute
Yogi Adityanath recalled that nine years ago, land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Police in the state capital was under the occupation of a notorious mafia figure who, reportedly shielded by the then government, had grown powerful enough that police did not dare reclaim their own land. Following bulldozer action by his administration in 2017, the mafia surrendered the land, which today houses the State Forensic Institute in Lucknow.
The institute, he said, is not merely a centre for forensic science laboratories (FSL) and cyber security — it now offers certificate, diploma, and degree courses in modern technologies. He also noted that under the new criminal laws, forensic evidence is mandatory in cases carrying a punishment of more than seven years, and mobile forensic vans have been deployed across every district of Uttar Pradesh.
UP's Economic Transformation
The Chief Minister outlined Uttar Pradesh's broader development trajectory over the past nine years, stating that the state has moved from what he described as an 'identity crisis' to becoming one of India's Top-3 economies. He cited several metrics: 60 per cent of the country's expressways are in Uttar Pradesh; a road network of four lakh kilometres has been developed; all district headquarters now have four-lane connectivity; and the number of medical colleges has risen from 41 to 83, with efforts underway to establish one in every district.
He highlighted state-specific initiatives — One District-One Product, One District-One Cuisine, and One District-One Medical College — as pillars of Uttar Pradesh's new identity. Referring to assistance rendered by villagers from Chitrakoot to devotees from Tamil Nadu during the Mahakumbh, he said it exemplified the spirit of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'.
CM Yogi on Media and Content Creators
Addressing content creators gathered at the 'Triveni' dialogue, Yogi Adityanath said it is inappropriate to treat only negative developments as news. He drew a distinction between news and views, stating that personal opinions should not be blended into factual reporting. He told the creators that they carry the potential to be opinion makers who can 'give society the courage to align public opinion with the truth,' adding that 'Satyamev Jayate' — truth alone triumphs — must guide public discourse.
With defence investments surpassing projections and forensic infrastructure expanding, Uttar Pradesh's transformation from a BIMARU-tagged state to a defence and economic powerhouse appears to be gathering pace — though the sustainability of that trajectory will depend on execution in the years ahead.