vindhyagiri: President Murmu launches advanced stealth frigate INS Vindhyagiri in Kolkata

Kolkata: President Droupadi Murmu launched INS Vindhyagiri at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were also present at the programme. President Droupadi Murmu said that India is poised to become the third largest economy in the world and the launch of INS ‘Vindhyagiri’ will strengthen Indian navy and help India become “Atmanirbhar Bharat” through indigenous ship-building.

“The launch of “Vindhyagiri” marks a move forward in enhancing India’s maritime capabilities. Vindhyagiri is also a step towards achieving the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous ship-building,” Murmu said, while launching the warship, the last in the series of three Project 17 Alpha built for the Indian Navy.

“India is the fifth largest economy in the world today and we are striving to become the third largest economy in the near future. A growing economy means higher volumes of trade. A huge part of our trade-goods transit through the seas. This fact highlights the importance of oceans to our growth and well-being,” Murmu emphasized.

“We have given a commitment to become “atmanirbhar” navy by 2047, just as PM Narendra Modi said that we will be fully developed nation by 2047. All the efforts are put in towards this and warships and ships will be built in India…we are getting lot of support from the government,” Chief of the Naval Staff R Harikumar said.

“The security in the Indian Ocean Region, and the larger Indo-Pacific has many aspects. It includes piracy, armed robbery, drug smuggling, illegal human migration, natural disasters and several such issues. Against this backdrop, the Indian Navy has the mandate to protect, preserve, and promote India’s maritime interests. The Navy has to always remain proactive in tackling security threats,” Murmu, who is the Supreme Commander of Navy, said while addressing the programme.

Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, Commodore PR Hari (Retd), “This launch is unique as the President has named and launched frigate as “Vidhyagiri” at GRSE as part of the “Make in India”.Vindhyagiri, a Project 17A frigate, was launched by the President at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata today. It has been named after the mountain range in Karnataka, is the third ship of the Project 17A frigates and the last one to be built at GRSE in Kolkata.“The ship is aptly named after the ‘Vindhya’ ranges, which have been a symbol of fortitude. I am confident that when this warship gets commissioned, it will symbolise the robustness of the Vindhyas!” the President observed.

“Vindhyagiri is a part of Project 17A which reflects our commitment to self-reliance and technological advancement. This project demonstrates indigenous innovation for developing state-of-the-art technology. I have been informed that the multi-mission frigates of this series would be capable of dealing with all kinds of threats to our maritime interests,” she added.

She emphasized on the strategic location of Kolkata and said that “Kolkata’s strategic location makes it vital for our naval preparedness, safeguarding our maritime interests and maintaining regional stability…”

The Chief of the Naval Staff R Harikumar also emphasized on the self-reliance of the naval sector. “It is a landmark event for us. Every time you launch a ship, it is a launch of a combat platform which adds to the potential for the navy and the country. Vidhyagiri is more potent. She is the third ship to be launched. The fourth one will be launched in September. Altogether 63 ships are under construction and out of it, 61 is built in India, as part of “Atmanirbharta”.