Karwar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the naval base under “Project Seabird” developed here should be Asia’s biggest, and he would try to get more budget for the same as and when required.
Addressing the Indian Navy officers and sailors, he said that not only India”s defence preparedness will be strengthened with the completion of the project, but also the country will see trade, economy and the humanitarian assistance strengthen with the completion of this project. The Centre’s wish is that this should become Asia”s biggest naval base, he asserted.
“As I am happy seeing Karwar closely, I can vouch that confidence level has increased towards this naval base,” Singh said and added that India should aim to be among one of the top three naval powers in the world in the next 10-12 years.
Singh, who was accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, undertook an aerial survey of project area and sites, prior to arriving at INS Kadamba Helipad here on Thursday June 24. Stating that Indian Navy”s contribution in maritime and national security is immense, Singh recalled the role played by the Navy in the past in the liberation of Goa, and the India-Pakistan wars. He also applauded service rendered by the Navy during this Covid pandemic.
He called on officers to be prepared for the future, and thus always strive to improve capacity and capability. Speaking on self-reliance in the defence sector, he said 64 per cent of the capital procurement budget will only be for domestic procurement and several changes have been made in the defence acquisition procedure.
He added that as many as 46 out of 48 ships and submarines being procured are being built in Indian shipyards. He informed that INS Vikrant will be completed soon and would likely be commissioned as the country completes 75 years of Independence.
The Defence Minister is also scheduled to visit Kochi to review the progress of construction of the indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) there.
