Second phase of largest Indian naval base further delayed

The Indian Navy’s ambitious plan for constructing its largest and exclusive naval base has been stuck for the last 26 years owing to budgetary constraints. The Rs 35,000 crore project has got further delayed as the Finance Ministry’s approval is yet to come through.

Located about 110 km from Goa, the naval base sprawling in 11,200 acres of land and 26-km long coastline in Karnataka is named INS Kadamba and will house around 40 warships, an air force station, helicopters and submarines once complete. The naval base, which will be among the largest military bases in Asia, has been mired with constant delays. 

It presently awaits the Cabinet Committee on Security’s (CCS) approval for the second phase. The proposal will be sent to CCS only when the Finance Ministry gives its nod.

Sources said: “The Finance Ministry has sought redrafting of a CCS note that means the monetary allocation will be pushed to the next financial year.” Once the work in the Phase-II starts it will take another 10 years for completion.

As per earlier schedule the Phase-II of the project had to be started at 2000 and finished by 2005. In the Phase-I, that commenced in 1999, the Navy has developed facilities for berthing of 10 ships. In the second phase the force will be more than doubling these facilities along with making a naval air base, tunnels for submarines, refueling facilities, and repair and maintenance facilities for its largest warships.

In the meantime the Navy has decided to go ahead with the ground work for the next phase like scouting for a firm to design, manage and construct the mammoth project that will give India one of the largest naval bases in the world on this side of the Suez canal.

The Request for Information issued by the Indian Navy on Friday sought Expression of Interest “to enable short-listing of reputable and capable consulting firms and institutions with proven track record, which could be appointed as a Project Management Consultant cum Marine Works Design Consultant (PMC & MWC) for Phase II-A of Project Seabird”.

The Ministry of Finance has in fact thrown budgetary spanners in the deal and blamed the Navy for failing to prioritize its modernization needs. Sanctioned in 1985, the base on the western coast is India’s first base exclusively for the naval ships capable of accommodating even the largest of its ship.

Karwar is located in the shadows of hills and a thick forest cover screen the base from prying satellites.

So far, the navy has been sharing facilities with commercial vessels at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi.  The Visakhapatnam harbor in the east has the capability to accommodate about 50 ships meeting Indian Navy’s requirement. But on the west coast, Mumbai being the commercial centre and shallow waters prevent berthing of larger warships like aircraft carriers. Moreover, due to congestion Mumbai port has little scope for expansion.

INS Kadamba also gives strategic leverage to the Indian Navy as its distance from Karachi; the nearest Pakistani port is more than Mumbai. This will further protect the Indian Naval assets from Pakistani missile attacks.

Another facility in the base is its ship-lifting capability that will help in lifting up warships up to 10,000 tonnes and to be transferred to the dry docks for repair. The ship-lift is a large platform that can be lowered into water and lift a ship vertically. This elevator will be able to life all the naval platforms except aircraft carriers and tankers.

 

Project Seabird

- To construct largest, exclusive naval base on western coast

- Rs. 35,000 crore project to spread in 11,200 acres area

- Berthing facilities for 50 warships including aircraft carrier

- Congested Mumbai hampers warships movement 

          

Strategic Gains

- INS Kadamba is farther from Pakistani port Karachi securing it from Pakistani missile attacks

- Karwar’s geographic environment with its hills and forest cover screen it from spying satellites

- Sea-depth provides easy berthing of warships

Money Constraints

- Mooted in 1985 initial outlay for Rs. 350 crore. Budgetary constraints force navy to redraw its plan in 1995

-  Work commences in 1999 with an allocation of Rs 2,500 crore

-  The original plan was to build berths for 22 warships but plan was partially shelved as money was received only for 10 berths in the Phase-I

- Problem in land acquisition further delayed the project

- The Phase-I completed in 2005

- The Finance Ministry approval for the second phase was expected by 2009

- Seeking modifications, Finance Ministry has accused Navy of failing to prioritize its needs

Other deals facing delay due to the lack of money

- The finance ministry objections led to cancellation of Rs. 6,000 crore tender for 6 mid air-refuellers sought by Indian Air Force

- The follow on order for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I has been in limbo because of this

-  The need for 126 fighter jets was mooted in 2001 but the tender could be issued only in 2007