Modi in Mumbai, inducts India's largest indigenously built warship INS Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commissioned the country’s largest indigenously built destroyer warship INS Kolkata into the Indian Navy in Mumbai.

Speaking after the commissioning ceremony, Modi said war was not something India or any nation desired, but war-preparedness was an important deterrent. The prime minister lauded the contribution of Indian designers, engineers, technicians and strategists who worked to make the country’s largest ever warship that he said will strengthen the country’s maritime defence capabilities mutifold.

“No country will dare to challenge India after commissioning of INS Kolkata,” the Prime Minister added.

The guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata has an in-built anti-submarine capability and can take on an anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft. It will also be the first Indian ship to be armed with the land attack, anti-ship BrahMos missile, also manufactured in India, making INS Kolkata capable of operating solo.

Modi arrived in Mumbai on Saturday morning for a day-long visit to Maharashtra.

Modi arrived at INS Shikra, the Indian Navy’s helicopter base in South Mumbai, and then proceeded to the Naval Dockyard.

Also present at the commissioning function were Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Maharashtra GOvernor K Sankaranarayanan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan.

The 6,800 tonne Kolkata class warship was constructed by the Mazagon Docks Ltd, Mumbai and has been designed by the Navy’s Design Bureau. The keel of the warship was laid down in September 2003 and the ship was launched in 2006.

Modi will also later in the day lay the foundation for a multi-crore SEZ and port connectivity project in Navi Mumbai, dedicate a Powergrid’s transmission line and launch multiple road and highway projects in Solapur.

INS Kolkata and two more destroyers (INS Kochi and INS Chennai) are being built by the Mazagon Docks Ltd under the Rs 11,662-crore Project-15A. The project is to be followed by the 15-B, which comprises the building of four guided missile stealth destroyers. 15-A is however well beyond schedule.

The Modi government recently cleared allocation of Rs 19,000 crore to complete the construction of INS Vikrant, which will be the largest indigenously built warship once it is ready. It will be a 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier.