President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday launched the Indian Navy's advanced stealth frigate INS Vindhyagiri at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd's (GRSE) facility on the Hooghly bank in Kolkata.
President Murmu, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, launched the vessel which is the sixth of seven ships being built under 'Project 17 Alpha' for the Indian Navy. The initial five ships under this project were launched between 2019 and 2022. Notably, INS Vindhyagiri represents the third and final stealth frigate produced by the Kolkata-based shipbuilder, fulfilling their contractual obligation to the Navy under this project.
The Indian Navy in a statement said: "INS Vindhyagiri, a technologically advanced frigate, pays a befitting tribute to the distinguished service of its predecessor, the former INS Vindhyagiri, Leander Class ASW Frigate. The old Vindhyagiri, in its nearly 31 years of service from Jul 8, 1981, to Jun 11, 2012, had witnessed various challenging operations and multinational exercises. The newly christened Vindhyagiri stands as a symbol of India's determination to embrace its rich naval heritage while propelling itself towards a future of indigenous defence capabilities."
According to an official source, around 75% of the equipment and systems orders for the P17A ship were sourced from indigenous companies, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The state-of-the-art ship will integrate cutting-edge technology and undergo rigorous testing before it is formally handed over to the Indian Navy for commissioning.
Categorised as guided missile frigates, the P17A ships measure 149 metres in length and boast a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes, achieving a speed of 28 knots, as confirmed by a representative from the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). These vessels possess the capability to counter threats across all three dimensions: aerial, surface, and sub-surface.
In addition to the ship-related developments, the President is scheduled to inaugurate the 'My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal' campaign as part of the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan', an initiative organized by the Brahma Kumaris at the Raj Bhavan. This visit constitutes the second instance of President Murmu's presence in West Bengal since assuming office last year. Her prior visit was in March. Given the President's presence, security measures have been escalated in the city, with traffic regulations being enforced on multiple roads as per official statements.
(With PTI inputs.)