Kochi: The Southern Naval Command in Kochi will soon have its own dry dock for repairing naval ships with the Ministry of Defence clearing the proposal. A senior official of the Indian Navy said that the ministry had approved the proposal and a formal order in this regard was expected in the next couple of months. The project estimated to cost Rs 1,400 crore is likely to be completed in six years, the official said. After getting the final clearance from the ministry, a detailed project report will be prepared, he said.
“It would take at least one year for the preparation of the detailed feasibility report before going for the global tender for the venture,” he said. The dry dock will be established close to the north jetty in the command. The green signal came after it was realised that a joint venture with the Cochin Shipyard Ltd would not serve the interests of the Navy fully. Earlier, a proposal was made for undertaking a new dry dock with a 50:50 investment between Navy and the CSL. The joint venture proposal was not found suitable for the requirement of the Navy, said the official.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Navy Week celebration scheduled to begin on December 4, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral A.R. Karve, said the operational efficiency of the Indian Navy had not been impacted by the shortage of personnel. “The issue has been addressed at the highest levels,” he said. Mr. Karve also ruled out any problems due to demonetisation. “All our financial transactions are through banks, including payments to civil contractors”, he added.
On the timely completion of INS Vikrant, the first indigenously-built aircraft carrier in the country, he said the progress was monitored on a daily basis at the highest levels and the project had been going through a very dynamic process. According to the original schedule, the aircraft carrier is scheduled to be inducted in the force by 2018.
