[rassedgesse]

Indian Navy is planning a major expansion of its strategic Karwar naval base in Karnataka (Project Seabird Phase IIA). INS Vikramaditya Aircraft carrier and aircrafts are to be based here. In addition, Scorpene submarines and some surface ships will also be based after the completion of the over Rs 10,000 crore project. A proposal in this regard is expected to be moved before the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for final approval, sources told PTI here. It is also planning to establish a Naval Air Station there for deploying fixed and rotary wing ship-based military aircraft. Around 30 major ships can be berthed after the phase II completion.


Approved in 1985, the Phase-I was completed at a cost of Rs 2,629 crore in 2005-06, has enabled the Navy to base more than 15 warships at Karwar.


Overall under the Phase-II, the Karwar naval station will get an airbase, armament depot, dockyard complex and missile silos, apart from additional jetties, berthing and anchorage facilities.


The Project Seabird was developed to decongest the naval dockyards in Mumbai which is choked due to increased traffic and pollution there. It is also far away from Pakistani cities and range of their missiles.