The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) is currently focused on improving its naval base in Visakhapatnam to bolster its strength and strategic position in the Bay of Bengal.

 

 

 

Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the ENC, revealed that a total of 37 projects, with a budget of Rs 2,192 crore, are currently in progress.

Aside from these infrastructure developments, the ENC is also working on enhancing its operational capabilities. The INS Mumbai, the lead ship of the Kolkata-class destroyers, is slated to join the Eastern Fleet in the near future, making Visakhapatnam the central hub for the three Delhi-class destroyers – Delhi, Mysore, and Mumbai.

 

At a recent press conference, Vice Admiral Pendharkar discussed the various military vessels and aircraft that are set to be commissioned in the near future. These include the Nilgiri class frigates, Next Generation Corvettes, Diving Support Vessels, Survey Vessels, Anti Submarine Warfare shallow watercraft, Nuclear submarines, multi-role MH 60R Helicopters, upgraded anti-submarine Kamov 28 Helicopters, and Medium lift C-295 aircraft.

 

The first of the Survey Vessels, Sandhayak, is expected to be ready for commissioning early next year. The Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam is currently working on the diving support vessels for the Indian Navy, and they have also been tasked with building five Fleet Support Ships. This project will greatly enhance the Indian Navy's ability to operate in blue waters, according to Vice Admiral Pendharkar.

During the press conference, Vice Admiral Pendharkar also addressed the issue of flight safety, stating that there is a major project underway to ensure compliance with international regulations. As part of this project, the Visakhapatnam airport runway is currently being resurfaced to meet safety standards.

 

Additionally, the air field lighting system at INS Dega has been upgraded, allowing for low visibility flight operations. The resurfacing of the runway at Dega is expected to be completed by March of next year, with the work being carried out in phases to minimize 

 

These projects involve multiple facets of the naval base's infrastructure, including:

Improving berths and jetties: Increasing the capabilities of berthing facilities to accommodate larger and more sophisticated warships.

Expanding dockyard facilities: Growing the capacity of the dockyard to handle maintenance, repairs, and refits for a wider variety of naval vessels.

Enhancing training facilities: Upgrading training facilities to provide advanced instruction to naval personnel in various areas.

Strengthening communication and surveillance systems: Boosting the efficiency of communication and surveillance networks to ensure readiness for operations and awareness of the situation. 

 

 

Source : AFI