Rajnath Singh inaugurates ₹1,000 crore ammunition factory in Shirdi, Maharashtra
Synopsis
India's largest private-sector artillery shell plant — capable of producing five lakh 155 mm shells a year — opened in Shirdi on Saturday, backed by ₹1,000 crore and built entirely on indigenous technology. Paired with a ₹2,000 crore explosives facility coming up at Belwandi, Ahilyanagar district is quietly becoming the country's newest private defence manufacturing corridor.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Shirdi Defence Manufacturing Complex on 24 May 2025 in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra .
The facility, built at approximately ₹1,000 crore over 200 acres , can produce up to five lakh 155 mm artillery shells annually using entirely indigenous technology.
The complex will also host production of rocket launchers , long-range rocket components , drones , and electronic testing systems .
A second project at Belwandi, Shrigonda taluka — 600 acres , ₹2,000 crore investment — will manufacture TNT, RDX, and HMX with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes of TNT per year.
Together, both facilities are expected to create employment for 4,000–5,000 youths in the region, according to district Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil .
A two-day defence exhibition featuring 100+ MSMEs is being held in Shirdi on 23–24 May alongside the inauguration.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, 24 May 2025, inaugurated a major artillery shell manufacturing facility at the Savali Vihir Industrial Estate in Shirdi, Maharashtra, marking a significant milestone in India's push for indigenous defence production under the Centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the ceremony.
About the Facility
Built at an investment of approximately ₹1,000 crore and spread across 200 acres within the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)'s estate near Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district, the plant is poised to become one of India's largest private-sector artillery shell manufacturing units. The facility has an annual production capacity of up to five lakh 155 mm artillery shells, manufactured entirely using indigenous technology and raw materials.
Officials confirmed the project was completed within a year — a timeline described as a notable achievement for a facility of this scale. Beyond artillery shells, the broader Shirdi Defence Manufacturing Complex will also house production units for rocket launchers, long-range rocket components, drones, and electronic testing systems.
Economic and Employment Impact
The facility is expected to generate approximately 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region and open significant business avenues for local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Ahilyanagar district Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated that once both the Shirdi complex and the upcoming Belwandi project become fully operational, they could together provide employment to nearly 4,000 to 5,000 youths in the region.
To mark the inauguration, a two-day defence exhibition is being organised in Shirdi on 23 and 24 May, featuring participation from leading defence companies and more than 100 MSMEs showcasing advances in defence manufacturing and technology.
The Belwandi Project: A Larger Ordnance Hub
Complementing the Shirdi facility, a second major ordnance manufacturing project is under development at Belwandi in Shrigonda taluka. Spread over 600 acres with a proposed investment of ₹2,000 crore, the Belwandi plant will focus on manufacturing high-grade explosives including TNT, RDX, and HMX. Officials indicated the facility will have an annual production capacity of 20,000 tonnes of TNT, potentially making it one of the largest explosive manufacturing plants in both the government and private sectors in India.
Strategic Significance
Officials said the factory will cater not only to domestic defence requirements but will also support exports of defence equipment to other nations, aligned with India's ambition to emerge as a global defence manufacturing hub. The projects are positioned under the Centre's flagship programmes — Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World. Authorities believe the twin investments will help position Ahilyanagar district as an emerging centre for defence manufacturing in India. With private capital now flowing into sectors once dominated by state-run ordnance factories, this inauguration signals a structural shift in how India intends to build its military-industrial base.
Point of View
It sends a pointed signal about domestic ammunition self-sufficiency. But the more consequential story is structural: private capital entering artillery shell and explosive manufacturing at scale is a genuine departure from India's decades-old reliance on state-run ordnance factories, several of which have struggled with capacity and quality. The real test will be whether these facilities can deliver consistent output at the volumes promised, and whether export orders materialise beyond the 'Make for the World' branding. Ahilyanagar's emergence as a defence corridor also warrants scrutiny — land acquisition, environmental clearances for explosive manufacturing, and MSME integration timelines are details that official announcements routinely underplay.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was inaugurated by Rajnath Singh in Shirdi?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an artillery shell manufacturing plant at the Shirdi Defence Manufacturing Complex in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra. Built at approximately ₹1,000 crore over 200 acres, it can produce up to five lakh 155 mm artillery shells annually using fully indigenous technology.
Where exactly is the Shirdi ammunition factory located?
The factory is located at the Savali Vihir Industrial Estate of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), near Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra.
What is the Belwandi ordnance project?
The Belwandi project is a separate, larger ordnance facility being developed in Shrigonda taluka, Ahilyanagar district. Spread over 600 acres with a proposed investment of ₹2,000 crore, it will manufacture explosives including TNT, RDX, and HMX, with an annual TNT production capacity of 20,000 tonnes.
How many jobs will the Shirdi and Belwandi projects create?
The Shirdi complex alone is expected to generate around 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once both the Shirdi and Belwandi facilities are fully operational, district Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has said they could together employ 4,000 to 5,000 youths in the region.
How do these projects fit into India's defence manufacturing goals?
Both facilities are aligned with the Centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World initiatives, aimed at reducing India's dependence on defence imports and expanding military equipment exports. Officials said the plants will serve both domestic defence requirements and international markets.
