The West Bengal government has confirmed that the necessary clearances for the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) proposed testing facility at Junput have progressed, according to the Times of India.
The facility is planned at Junput village in Purba Medinipur district, near the coastal town of Digha. Located around 177 kilometers from Kolkata and approximately 70 kilometers from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha, the proposed site covers 8.73 acres along the Bay of Bengal. Its coastal location provides access to dedicated corridors for defense testing activities.
The new facility is expected to help reduce the workload at the Chandipur test range, which handles a significant volume of missile trials and other defense-related testing. Once operational, the Junput center could support trials involving short-range missiles, radar systems, and various weapon technologies, helping DRDO distribute testing activities across multiple locations.
Expanding the testing infrastructure is expected to improve operational efficiency and reduce congestion at existing facilities, supporting India’s broader defense research and development programs.
Administrative Clearances Advance
Officials said earlier administrative issues had delayed progress on the project, but the pending matters have since been addressed. The latest move reflects coordination between the West Bengal government and DRDO to advance the development of the proposed defense testing infrastructure.
Junput’s proximity to Chandipur could allow the two facilities to complement each other. While Chandipur would continue supporting longer-range and strategic missile trials, the proposed Junput facility could focus on short-range systems, radar testing, and other suitable activities.
Such a division of testing responsibilities could help reduce bottlenecks and increase India’s overall capacity to evaluate new defense technologies.
The proposed location along the Bay of Bengal also offers a relatively controlled environment for testing activities while reducing potential risks to populated areas. Its coastal setting could support missile trajectory monitoring, radar evaluation, and other trials requiring access to open-air testing corridors.
Strengthening Regional Defense Infrastructure
The Junput project forms part of a broader effort to expand defense infrastructure in West Bengal. State authorities have highlighted defense-related investments as a potential driver of industrial development and economic growth in the region.
The proposed testing range also supports India’s objective of strengthening indigenous defense capabilities. By expanding the number of facilities available for weapons and sensor testing, DRDO could reduce dependence on a single major test location while gaining greater flexibility in planning and conducting trials.
The development further reflects efforts to align regional industrial growth with national security priorities, potentially strengthening West Bengal’s role in India’s defense modernization ecosystem.
