A 255-acre defence manufacturing project is set to come up in Rukni, in West Bengal’s Purulia district, as Jupiter Defence Private Limited prepares to establish an integrated defence production centre in the Raghunathpur industrial area, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin.
The land was allotted by the state in Raghunathpur II block through the state industrial development corporation. The company is expected to begin work soon, although the report did not specify a construction start date, investment amount, production capacity or commissioning timeline.
The proposed facility follows the allocation of land to Jupiter Defence in Kolkata about a week before the report was published. The development is part of a wider effort to revive Raghunathpur, where several hundred acres were acquired around 17 years ago for industrial development.
The 255-acre parcel had earlier been allotted to Adhunik Corporation Limited for a steel project. According to the report, the company was unable to establish the plant and the state subsequently took back the land. The parcel remained unused for an extended period, creating dissatisfaction among local residents who had expected industrial activity and employment after the acquisition.
The Raghunathpur industrial area has faced difficulty in converting acquired land into operating heavy-industry projects. The report said residents from the region have travelled to eastern India and other states for work because local employment opportunities have remained limited. The state expects the proposed defence facility to generate both direct and indirect employment, but no employment estimate has been released.
The project site has access to rail and road links. Rukni railway station is located on the Adra–Gomoh section of South Eastern Railway, while the site is around three kilometres from the Mautore area on the Raghunathpur–Cheliama road. Dhanara village is located nearby.
The location gives the proposed plant an existing transport connection for movement of workers, equipment and industrial materials. However, the source report does not provide details of the infrastructure upgrades, utilities, water requirements, environmental approvals or logistics arrangements that may be needed before construction and production begin.
The proposed facility also enters an industrial landscape where residents have raised concerns about red-category factories. The report said protests have taken place across the Raghunathpur industrial area, including over Amit Metallics. The company has stated that its plant is environmentally friendly, according to the report.
The state has presented the Jupiter Defence project as part of a broader investment push in Purulia. The chief minister was reported to have said during a recent visit to the district that investments worth ₹1 lakh crore would be made in Purulia within a year. The report did not provide a project-wise breakdown of that figure or clarify how much of it has reached the implementation stage.
The next confirmed milestone is the start of work by Jupiter Defence at the allotted site. Further details on investment, approvals, construction, employment and environmental compliance remain to be announced.
