Karwar: “ A sum of Rs 19,600 crore has been kept aside for second phase development of Karwar Naval Base will be the largest naval base in Asia by 2021 ” said Rear Admiral K J Kumar, VSM and Flag Officer Karnataka Naval Area.
Addressing the media on board of INS Aditya at Karwar base on Saturday, he said phase IIA work of the Seabird Project is expected to commence in Karwar next year and the integrated base will be completed by 2021 or 2022.
He has informed that eight more operational jetties will be developed during the secong phase of development. Karwar will be the station for more number of Indian Naval ships and a lot of submarines will operate from here. Naval air station will also be built at the base and it will be helpful to enlarge logistics transportation by copters and medium aircraft, he added.
Apart from this, INHS Patanjali Hospital will upgrade from 141-bed to 400-bed under the phase-IIA project, and also another Kendriya Vidyalaya is planned inside the base. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure here will be helpful for the people of this region. He pointed that about 20 years ago, Vizag was not developed. But after the establishment of a naval base there, the city has been developed. “Likewise, Karwar will also develop in the coming years. The governments and private players will invest here and it will create many job opportunities, so this will be helpful for the overall development of the region,” he said.
Governor Vajubhai Vala will come to Karwar Naval Base to participate in the celebration of ‘Navy Day 2016’ on Sunday (December 4). As part of the Navy Day, a week-long programmes like health camps, sports meet and swimming competition were organized and also public were allowed to visit the base.
The Admiral said Indian Navy has successfully safeguarded the nation’s maritime interests by ensuring safe sea-borne trade at all times, thereby guaranteeing unhindered growth of our rapidly growing economy. “Over the years, our responsibilities have grown manifold. Today, the Indian Navy is tasked with not just defense against conventional threats, but also coastal security, counter-piracy, disaster relief and evacuation of Indian citizens from foreign shores and many more,” he said.
He thanked Indian Coast Guard, State Marine Police, District Administration, District Police and other stakeholders for their support to the Navy.
He said: “The local population, especially the fishermen, who are our eyes and ears at sea have been extremely cooperative in our endeavor towards security of the coast of Karnataka.” With the execution of project Seabird, considerable employment opportunities are available to the local population of Karwar.
They have an opportunity to enroll themselves as sailors and civilian employees in the Navy, subject to meeting the required eligibility criteria, he added.