President launches INS Vindhyagiri, Kolkata

President Droupadi Murmu Launched The INS Vindhyagiri At Kolkata

On August 17th, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Kolkata, West
Bengal, and presided over the launch ceremony of the INS Vindhyagiri at
the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) facility situated
along the Hooghly River. The vessel is aptly named after the renowned
Vindhyagiri mountain range in Karnataka.

The honorable President was welcomed to Kolkata by West Bengal
Governor CV Ananda Bose, joined by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,
who both graced the occasion of the INS Vindhyagiri’s launch. The INS
Vindhyagiri stands as an advanced stealth frigate, representing the sixth of
seven ships conceived under the Navy’s ‘Project 17 Alpha’. The earlier five
ships were successfully launched between 2019 and 2022. Notably, this
latest addition is the third and final stealth frigate contracted for production
by the Kolkata-based warship manufacturer for the Navy under this project.
An official source highlighted that a significant 75 percent of equipment and
system orders for the P17A ships originate from indigenous entities,
including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The cutting-edge
vessel will undergo rigorous testing and incorporation of the latest
technologies prior to being formally handed over to the Indian Navy for
commissioning.

These vessels are an extension of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik
Class), boasting enhanced stealth attributes, advanced weaponry, sensors,
and platform management systems. Each of the P17A ships is an imposing
149 meters in length, with a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes,
and can achieve speeds of up to 28 knots, as confirmed by a GRSE
spokesperson. Their capabilities span all dimensions of aerial, surface, and
sub-surface threat neutralization.

Earlier in the day, President Murmu inaugurated the ‘My Bengal, Addiction
Free Bengal’ campaign as part of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’,
organized by the Brahma Kumaris at the Raj Bhavan. This marks President
Murmu’s second visit to West Bengal since assuming office last year, with a
prior visit in March. Security was meticulously enforced across the city in
view of the President’s visit, leading to the regulation of traffic along various
routes, according to officials.