Shah lays foundation stone for India's first state run BSL4 lab in Gujarat

Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for Gujarat’s first state-of-the-art Bio-Containment Facility, a Bio Safety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory, along with an Animal Bio-Safety Level facility in Gandhinagar. The ceremony was held in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.During the event, the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, granted a Letter of Intent to the Gujarat Science and Technology Department to designate the BSL-4 facility of the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) as the ‘National Centre for High Containment Pathogen Research Facility’ under the Centre’s BioE3 Policy.On this occasion, the Minister for Science and Technology, Arjun Modhwadia, was also present.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said a new era in India’s health security and bio-safety sector has begun from Gujarat. He noted that after Pune, this will be only the second high-level containment laboratory in the country and the first such facility to be operated by a state government. The lab will be built at a cost of Rs 362 crore and is expected to serve as a strong bio-security shield to combat deadly and emerging viruses.Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that science and technology should be the foundation of national development, Shah said the international-standard laboratory will create new opportunities for researchers and youth. He added that the facility will significantly strengthen the One Health Mission, aimed at preventing diseases transmitted from animals to humans, and said recent health challenges such as Chandipura and Lumpy Skin Disease highlighted the need for a permanent, research-driven bio-security framework.
Highlighting the rapid growth of India’s biotechnology sector, Shah said the country’s bio-economy has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to over $166 billion in 2024. Emphasising research as the core of innovation, he said improved infrastructure has enabled Indian scientists to conduct world-class research in highly secure environments.
Shah also pointed to the surge in startups and investments in the sector. He said the number of biotech startups has grown from fewer than 500 in 2014 to over 10,000, while incubators have increased from six to 95. Incubation space has expanded from 60,000 square feet to nine lakh square feet, private investment has risen from Rs 10 crore to Rs 7,000 crore, and patent filings have increased from 125 to more than 1,300, reflecting a shift towards job creation by India’s youth.Under the BioE3 Policy, Shah said the government is committed to taking India’s biotechnology sector to greater heights. He noted that India is now manufacturing vaccines domestically for serious diseases such as Covid-19 and cervical cancer. He urged students and researchers to take responsibility for ensuring the country’s health security, stating that the new lab will play a transformative role in the healthcare sector.
Shah said that with the establishment of this facility, Indian scientists will no longer need to depend on foreign countries for testing samples, strengthening the resolve of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the health sector. He expressed confidence that by 2027, India would emerge as one of the world’s leading nations in the semiconductor and biotechnology sectors.He also flagged concerns over antimicrobial resistance arising from the misuse of antibiotics and called on researchers to address what he described as a “silent disaster” through scientific innovation. He urged students in the biotech field to fully utilise national facilities to develop life-saving pharmaceutical formulations and vaccines, contributing to the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He said the facility would serve as a protective shield not only for Gujarat but for the entire country.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described the project as a crucial step towards safeguarding the country against potential pandemics and an important part of the Prime Minister’s vision for healthcare and modern infrastructure development. He said the operationalisation of GBRC has enabled self-reliance in diagnosing and researching serious health challenges such as viral outbreaks, genetic infections, and pandemics without dependence on external institutions.Patel expressed confidence that the BSL-4 lab will enable advanced research on high-risk viruses within the state, ensuring timely, accurate, and reliable diagnosis while further strengthening the healthcare system. He said GBRC is not just a research institution but a nodal centre for Gujarat’s biotechnology capacity, adding that research from the BSL-4 lab will directly feed into diagnosis, treatment, and public health policy through translational research. He said the facility would be a milestone in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 through a healthy, secure, and self-reliant India.

(State Correspondent)