General Anil Chauhan Inaugurates New Infrastructure at Naval Base Karwar

Karwar: General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary, DMA, inaugurated the new residential accommodation for Senior Sailors of the Indian Navy and the Main Distribution Sub Station as part of the Trunk facilities at the Naval Base, Karwar. The event, held on February 4, was attended by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, SG Dastidar, DAS, FA (DS), and other senior officers.

The newly inaugurated residential accommodation consists of four towers, providing 240 dwelling units for Master Chief Petty Officers (MCPOs) and Chief Petty Officers (CPOs). This infrastructure was developed by M/S NCC Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, and will significantly improve the living conditions for the naval personnel at the base.

In addition to the residential facilities, the Main Distribution Sub Station at the Naval Base was also unveiled. It features four 33/11 KV, 35 MVA transformers capable of providing a stabilised power supply of 65 MVA to operational piers, accommodations, and utilities. The substation is equipped with seventy-seven state-of-the-art 33 KV Gas Insulated Switchgears, frequency converters, and voltage stabilizers. Furthermore, three Captive Power Plants, each with a 3 MVA capacity, will provide backup power to the naval base. The Main Distribution Sub Station was constructed by M/s ITD Cementation India Ltd., Mumbai.

These developments are part of Phase IIA of Project Seabird, which aims to bolster the naval capabilities at Karwar by supporting the berthing of a significant number of ships and submarines. The project also includes a dual-use Naval Air Station, a full-fledged Naval Dockyard, Covered Dry Berths, and various logistics facilities for ships and aircraft.

The ongoing construction of Phase IIA has created approximately 7,000 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs, providing a significant boost to the local economy. The project adheres to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) norms, ensuring sustainable and environmentally friendly development. In line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, over 90% of the materials and equipment for the project have been sourced from Indian vendors.