On September 2, 2022, Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi commissioned India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala.
i.He also unveiled the new Naval Ensign “Nishaan” showcasing Indian maritime heritage. He dedicated the new ensign to Chhatrapati Shivaji.
ii.He laid the foundation stone of Rs 4,500-cr rail infrastructure, metro projects in Kerala.
About INS Vikrant: Largest ship ever built in maritime history of India
Designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by CSL, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, it showcased Aatmanirbhar credentials during Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The steel installed in its airbase is also indigenous, developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists and produced by Indian companies.
- It has been built with state of the art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in maritime history of India.
- It will be based in the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Features:
i.Length: 262.5 m
ii.Width: 61.6 m
iii.Displacement: Approx 43,000 T (Tonne)
iv.Maximum Speed: 28 Knots with endurance of 7,500 Nautical Miles.
- The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totalling 88 MW power and built at an overall cost close to Rs 20,000 crores
v.The ship has around 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 including women officers and sailors.
vi.The ship is capable of operating air wing consisting of 30 aircraft comprising of Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in addition to indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy).
vii.Using a novel aircraft-operation mode known as Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), INS Vikrant is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft and the ship will have a set of ‘arrester wires’ for the recovery onboard for jets.
It should be noted that INS Vikrant has 76% indigenous content, thus, its construction has resulted in direct employment generation for over 2,000 employees of CSL. It also provided indirect employment generation for approx 12,500 employees for over 550 OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers), sub-contractors, ancillary industries and over 100 MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises).
New Ensign of Navy
Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, PM unveiled the new Naval Ensign (flag) at Kochi which dropped the St George’s Cross and incorporates the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of a modern navy. The White Ensign now comprises of two main constituents – the National Flag in the upper left canton, and a Navy Blue – Gold octagon at the centre of the fly side (away from the staff).
- The Octagon is with twin golden octagonal borders encompassing the golden National Emblem (Lion Capital of Ashoka – underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in blue Devnagri script) resting atop an anchor; and superimposed on a shield.
- Below the shield, within the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon, on a Navy Blue background, is inscribed the motto of the Indian Navy ‘Sam No Varunah’ in golden Devnagri script.
- The design encompassed within the octagon has been taken from the Indian Naval crest, wherein the fouled anchor, which is also associated with colonial legacy, has been replaced with a clear anchor underscoring the steadfastness of the Indian Navy.
Other Participants:
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD); Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar; Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, among others.
PM laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various projects of Kochi Metro and Indian Railways worth around Rs 4500cr in Kochi
On 1st September 2022, Ahead of Onam, the PM also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various projects of Kochi Metro and Indian Railways worth around Rs 4500 crore in Kochi. He also visited Shri Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram at Kalady village in Kochi.
Key Points:
i.The PM inaugurated the Phase I extension of the Kochi Metro Rail Project from Petta to SN junction.
- The total cost of the project is over Rs 700 crores.
ii.He laid the foundation stone for the Phase –II stretch of the Kochi Metro rail project from JLN stadium to Infopark, having a length of 11.2 km and covering 11 stations.
- The total estimated cost of this project is around Rs 1,950 crores.
iii.PM also dedicated to the nation, the doubling of the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam-Chingavanam rail section, completed at the cost of nearly Rs 750 crore.
iv.He dedicated to the nation the newly electrified rail section between Kollam – Punalur.
He laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of three railway stations in Kerala – Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Kollam.
- The total estimated cost of these station redevelopment projects is around Rs. 1050 crores.
v.Central Government by now has invested Rs 1 lakh crore in various infrastructure projects in Kerala which includes Rs 55,000 crore, six-lane NH 66.
Recent Related News:
i.On 18th July 2022, PM Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’ while addressing the
Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar, named ‘Swavlamban’ (self-reliance) in New Delhi, Delhi. The SPRINT Challenges aims to boost the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.
ii.On July 15, 2022, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched an indigenously built Y-3023 Dunagiri, Project-17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) onto the river Hooghly in Kolkata (West Bengal) for Indian Navy. The Project 17A frigates, also known as Nilgiri-class stealth frigates.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral R Hari Kumar
Founded– 26 January 1950
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
