Rajnath Singh and CDS Chauhan Hail Operation Sindoor as Milestone in Defence Self-Reliance; BRAHMA Rail Hub to Boost Joint Military Capability
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stone for BEML’s Greenfield Rail Manufacturing facility -- BRAHMA -- at Umaria in Madhya Pradesh, describing it as both a leap in infrastructure and a statement of intent on India’s security posture.
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Singh said the success of Operation Sindoor was built on indigenous equipment, crediting India’s decade-long drive towards Aatmanirbharta in the defence sector.
“We have moved from being dependent buyers to supplying our own forces and even friendly nations,” he noted, pointing to record defence production in FY 2024–25 at ₹1.51 lakh crore and exports at ₹23,622 crore.
BRAHMA: Scale, Scope, and Sustainability
Planned over 148 acres, BRAHMA will produce advanced rolling stock including Vande Bharat trainsets, metro coaches, EMUs, and high-speed rail units for domestic and export markets.
Initial capacity will be 125–200 coaches a year, scaling up to 1,100 annually within five years. BEML will invest ₹1,800 crore in phases, creating over 5,000 jobs and stimulating local supply chains, particularly in Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli, Satna, Rewa, and Katni industrial belt.
The plant will feature green manufacturing measures such as solar energy integration, zero liquid discharge, rainwater harvesting, and the use of recycled materials, aligning with national sustainability goals. Singh called the facility a cornerstone of economic and industrial self-reliance: “Projects like BRAHMA reaffirm our resolve to be self-reliant, globally competitive, and future ready.”
CDS Stresses Jointness and Modern Logistics
Separately, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan hailed Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of tri-service synergy. Speaking at the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad, he underlined the importance of capability development, joint operations, and integration of logistics in the era of technology-driven warfare.
Chauhan unveiled the Joint Primer for Integrated Logistics, a guide to digitising and harmonising provisioning across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and integrating with national logistics systems.
He also inaugurated a Smart Bike e-bicycle facility for CDM personnel to promote green mobility.
Economic and Strategic Context
Rajnath Singh linked initiatives like BRAHMA to the government’s wider vision for a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, combining infrastructure growth, defence exports, and local manufacturing as levers for both national security and economic competitiveness.
“This is how we will build a strong, secure, and prosperous India,” he said, urging greater R&D investment from public sector units and defence industries.
The event was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (virtually), senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, and BEML management.