The West Bengal government has approved a proposal from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to establish a weapon and missile testing range at Junput, a coastal village in Purba Medinipur district, the state said on Sunday.
State nod for strategic facility on Bay of Bengal coast
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari sanctioned the project, which officials described as a significant step for both the state's development and India's defence infrastructure. The proposed testing complex on the Bay of Bengal coast would become the third major DRDO hub after the long-standing Chandipur facilities in Odisha and a proposed centre in Andhra Pradesh.
"This will be a big project for West Bengal’s development," the chief minister said, according to the state government statement.
The Junput site lies roughly 70 km down the coast from Chandipur, which currently hosts much of the country's missile and weapons flight‑testing activity. DRDO's existing Integrated Test Range operates across two launch complexes in Odisha; the new facility at Junput is intended to share workload and enhance national testing capacity, state officials said.
Local impact and strategic rationale
Officials have positioned the project as both a strategic and economic opportunity for the coastal district. A defence testing range typically requires secure sea and airspace, telemetry and tracking installations, safety exclusion zones, and associated infrastructure such as roads, power and communications. The state government has given administrative clearance for DRDO to proceed with detailed planning and site surveys, the statement added.
While the announcement emphasises development benefits, the prospect of an expanded defence footprint on the Sundarbans‑adjacent coast is likely to trigger environmental assessments and consultations with local stakeholders. The area around Junput comprises fishing hamlets and coastal ecosystems that support livelihoods; any large infrastructure will need clear mitigation plans and regulatory approvals.
How the new range fits into India’s testing architecture
DRDO presently uses Chandipur and the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha for flight tests and weapons trials. The Junput facility is intended to relieve pressure on those complexes by providing an additional launch corridor along the eastern seaboard. A state release characterised the project as bolstering the country’s defence testing capabilities and dispersing testing activity geographically.
| Existing/Planned Facility | Location | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Chandipur | Odisha | Principal missile and weapons test site |
| Integrated Test Range (ITR) | Odisha (two complexes) | National missile test infrastructure |
| Junput (approved) | Purba Medinipur, West Bengal | New eastern seaboard testing hub |
| Proposed Andhra centre | Andhra Pradesh | Planned additional testing facility |
Concerns, procedures and next steps
The state clearance permits DRDO to move forward with project planning and statutory clearances. Standard procedure for a defence testing range typically includes environmental impact assessment, clearance from coastal zone regulation authorities, consultations with local communities and fisheries stakeholders, and coordination with civil aviation and maritime agencies to establish temporary or permanent exclusion zones during tests.
- Administrative approval from the state for DRDO’s proposal has been given.
- Junput will be positioned as a third major DRDO hub along India’s eastern coast.
- Further clearances and detailed surveys remain necessary before construction or operations begin.
Local leaders and residents in Purba Medinipur have previously welcomed investment that generates jobs and improves infrastructure, but they also seek assurances on compensation, ecological safeguards and uninterrupted fishing access. The announcement is likely to prompt meetings between DRDO, state departments and local panchayats to discuss land use, rehabilitation where needed, and timelines.
For West Bengal, the project represents a rare central‑government strategic facility located within the state’s coastal belt. Officials frame it as an opportunity to build ancillary infrastructure and skills, though the balance between strategic requirements and local livelihoods will be scrutinised as the proposal advances through environmental and administrative clearances.
Further details on the project timeline, land acquisition, budget and the precise technical profile of the Junput testing range were not disclosed in the state release. DRDO and central ministries will be the next authorities to provide specifications as they move from approval to execution.
