Navy readies Mumbai for President's Fleet Review

Mumbai: The Indian Navy has turned Mumbai into a fortress in view of the 10th President’s Fleet Review (PFR) in Mumbai on Tuesday. “Navy has put in place the highest level of security for the PFR. The Presidential Column which includes presidential yacht and other VIP vessels will be escorted by two extra fast attack crafts,” navy spokesperson Commodore PVS Satish said.[caption id=“attachment_160327” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“An Indian Navy aircraft. Image courtesy PIB”]  [/caption] Replying to a question on any threat perception during the event, he said, “All possible security measures will be in place to secure the area. There will be various layers of security in place along with air surveillance and anti-missile batteries.” Navy and Indian coast guard have deployed 15 platforms to guard the Mumbai anchorage area along with round-the-clock air surveillance from INS Shikra. This is said to be the highest security arrangement by Navy after 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Along with 60 plus naval warships which have come from various naval commands including Andaman and Nicobar, a total of 81 ships are participating in the event which includes fly past by 44 aircraft from Navy and Coast Guard. Each ship will have its own protection and security measure in place to counter any threat, Satish said. Four Union ministers—Minister for Shipping GK Vasan, Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora (both Ministers of State for Communications and IT) and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik—and members of Parliamentary Committee on Defence will also attend the event. President will sail on INS Saubhadra—a Sukanya class patrol vessel—to review the fleet which will begin with INS Agray—an anti-submarine corvette—offering the first salute to the Commander-in-Chief. After going around all the warships and vessels the fleet review will end with the president taking the salute of Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Viraat will be the flagship of Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma. For the first time in the history of the PFR, a warship-carrying an Indian Army officer will be participating. “INS Kesari will salute the president with Lt General Naresh Marwah, Commander-in-Chief of the triservice Andaman and Nicobar Command,” Satish said. The fly-past will be led by the newly inducted MiG-29K fighters and will be followed by choppers and surveillance aircraft of the Navy and Coast Guard. Today, the naval orchestra will also play a special symphony for the president who is celebrating her birthday. The PFRs are only next to the Republic Day parade where the Supreme Commander reviews the combined strength of all the three services. Inherited from the Royal British Navy, PFR takes place once during the tenure of a President. So far nine such reviews, including the International Fleet Review (IFR) in 2001, have taken place. Rajendra Prasad reviewed the first PFR in October 1953. In 1956 and 1964, the reviews were carried out by the Shah of Iran and by then Defence Minister YB Chavan, respectively. Presidents Zakir Hussain, N Sanjiva Reddy and Shankar Dayal Sharma did not review the fleet during their tenure. The last fleet review was conducted by President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006 at the Eastern Sea Board in Visakhapatnam. PTI