Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new State-of-the-Art Admin-cum-Training building of the Naval War College at Goa on Tuesday. The modern edifice is named the ‘Chola’ in commemoration of the mighty maritime empire of the Chola dynasty. He described Chola Bhawan as a symbol of the aspirations of the Navy and India’s legacy of maritime excellence.
“In view of the increased movement of our adversaries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the commercial importance of the region, it was necessary to re-assess our threat perception and accordingly re-balance our military resources & strategic attention. Under the Prime Minister’s guidance, we not only re-imagined India’s role in the IOR but also strengthened it. Due to these efforts, India has today emerged as the first responder and preferred security partner in the IOR,” he observed while speaking at the event.
Chola Bhawan
The Minister emphasised that the Indian Navy is ensuring that no country, with its overwhelming economic and military power, is able to assert dominance over friendly countries or threaten their sovereignty. The readiness with which the Navy stands with the country’s allies provides substantive strength to India’s global values, he said.
“The increasing naval power not only protects us from our adversaries but also provides an environment of security to other stakeholders in the Indian Ocean,” he asserted.
Lauding the Navy for strengthening the security environment in the region and generating goodwill for India on the global canvas through its anti-piracy and anti-trafficking operations, he stated that while these incidents have been reduced due to the promptness of the Indian Navy, the threats cannot be ignored. He referred to the recent attacks on the undersea cables, terming such incidents as a direct attack on strategic interests. He urged the Navy to remain prepared to deal with such challenges.
Industrial Naval Base
Project Seabird
Defence Minister, on the occasion, virtually inaugurated Project Seabird, two major piers in Naval Base in Karwar. The Aircraft Carrier Pier is capable of simultaneous berthing of two Aircraft Carriers and one Landing Ship Tank (Large). The Auxiliary vessel Pier would host Fast Attack Craft, Interceptor Craft and Auxiliary Craft. The piers would also provide various shore-based services, such as power, potable water, chilled water for air conditioning and other domestic services to the ships, according to the Ministry’s statement.
According to the statement, these infrastructure developments are part of ongoing Phase IIA of Project Seabird, which will accommodate 32 ships/submarines, 23 yardcraft, a dual-use Naval Air Station, a complete Naval Dockyard, four covered dry berths and logistics for ships/aircraft. It will house around 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel with families, significantly boosting the local economy and industrial growth. The statement claims that the Naval Air Station with Civil Enclave is anticipated to enhance tourism in North Karnataka and South Goa.
Rajnath Singh stated that Project Seabird, which is the largest naval infrastructure building project in the country, is working to increase the capacity of the Indian Navy. He expressed confidence that both the piers will further strengthen the strategic presence on the western coast of the country.
These developments are part of Phase IIA of Project Seabird, which will progress over the next seven to eight years. Phase I of Project Seabird was designed to accommodate 10 ships and was successfully finished in 2011. Once fully operational, with an estimated 50,000 individuals residing in the Naval Facilities spread over the 25-kilometre expanse, a substantial contribution to the local economy is foreseen. The Indian Navy hopes the establishment of the Naval Dockyard and the maintenance needs of ships will act as catalysts for the industrial growth of the region.
Nitish Chavan
