President Droupadi Murmu launched indigenously built ‘Vindhyagiri’, the sixth ship of project 17A of the Indian Navy, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited, Kolkata, West Bengal on August 17. Vindhyagiri is named after the mountain range in Karnataka which is the sixth ship of the Project 17A Frigates.
During the event, the President noted that the introduction of Vindhyagiri signifies progress in bolstering India’s maritime capacities. She said that it is also a stride towards realizing the vision of self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) by means of domestic shipbuilding. President Murmu said, “The ship is aptly named after the ‘Vindhya’ ranges, which have been a symbol of fortitude. I am confident that when this warship gets commissioned, it will symbolise the robustness of the Vindhyas.”
Project 17 warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), boasting enhanced stealth capabilities, cutting-edge weaponry, advanced sensor systems, and proficient platform management technology. The multi-mission frigates of this series would be capable of dealing with all kinds of threats to India’s maritime interests. The President said that Vindhyagiri’s inclusion in Project 17A underscores our dedication to self-sufficiency and technological progress. “This project demonstrates indigenous innovation for developing state-of-the-art technology,” she added.
The President emphasized that India currently holds the position of the fifth largest global economy and is actively working towards securing the rank of the third largest economy in the coming years. She further stated that growing economy means higher volumes of trade and huge part of our trade-goods transit through the seas which highlights the importance of oceans to our growth and well-being.
Furthermore, the President underscored that ensuring security within the Indian Ocean Region and the broader Indo-Pacific encompasses a multitude of dimensions. These encompass challenges such as piracy, armed theft, drug trafficking, unlawful human migration, natural calamities, and other related concerns. Given this context, the Indian Navy holds the responsibility to safeguard, conserve, and foster India’s maritime interests. The Navy must consistently adopt a proactive approach in addressing security challenges. “Kolkata’s strategic location makes it vital for our naval preparedness, safeguarding our maritime interests and maintaining regional stability,” the President added.