Atmanirbhar Bharat Week: GRSE launches new modernisation facilities

New Delhi: Taking the self-reliant India Mission (Atmanirbhar Mission) forward, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a Miniratna Defence PSU and premier warship builder of the nation, has launched two new facilities on Monday. As part of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Week' celebration, a state-of-the-art indigenous underwater CNC plasma cutting machine and a modern hull block fabrication complex, were virtually inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at GRSE's Rajabagan Dockyard Unit, Kolkata. This marks the achievement of a major milestone by the Shipyard in their ongoing modernisation plan. GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Cmde Rear Admiral VK Saxena,IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) Cmde. Sanjeev Nayyar, IN (Retd), Director (Personnel) Cmde. PR Hari & Director (Finance) RK Dash and Senior Officials of GRSE were present on the occasion.

The CNC plasma cutting facility set up at a cost of Rs 4.14 crores will enhance the plate cutting capacity by 30 percent and the complex constructed at a cost of Rs 19 crores for hull block fabrication will enable concurrent construction of large-sized (40 Ton) hull blocks in a covered environment, which will facilitate modular integrated construction of warships with an enhancement in production capacity of hull blocks by 25 percent. Both these facilities will go a long way in enhancing the production capacity of the shipyard, especially during the execution of the three major warship building projects comprising of 15 warships that GRSE is presently handling for the Indian Navy- the P17A Stealth Frigates, the ASW Shallow Water Craft and the Survey Vessels (Large).

The CNC plasma cutting machine facility shall have the ability to cut plates with a cutting capacity of 3 mm thick to 65 mm thick carbon steel plates, 30 mm thick stainless steel plates and 50 mm thk Aluminium plates with an accuracy range of 1 mm max. This machine also has an underwater plasma cutting torch to cut the plate in submerged condition to reduce fume and pollution. The machine has the capability for bevel cutting up to 45 degrees which is expected to enhance production rate from 2,000 to 3,000 MT per day as per the requirement and nesting pattern and obviate duplicate activity which was otherwise done separately.

The Industrial Shed, Area-1 (85M x 27M), also inaugurated today enhances GRSE's capability for construction of higher capacity block to meet the production requirement for the ongoing prestigious P17A Project at Main Works Unit of GRSE. The complex constructed at a cost of INR 19 crores for Hull Block Fabrication, will enable concurrent construction of large-sized (40 Ton) hull blocks in a covered environment, which will facilitate modular integrated construction of warships.
Celebrating the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, GRSE has a few activities planned to be undertaken during the week including inauguration of a New Product, The Portable Pedestrian (Assault) Bridge, which is a first of its kind. GRSE is a diversified company with its strong foothold into engineering production including portable steel bridges and deck machinery items. A webinar with MSME vendors for promotion of registration in GeM and launching the online vendor grievance redressal portal shall be the other highlights to mark the event.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers has been at the forefront of the nation's maritime progress aimed towards self-reliance in the sixty years since its inception in 1960 with its indigenisation efforts and focus, since the delivery of the first Indigenous warship of independent India in 1961, INS Ajay, a Seaward Defence Boat for the Indian Navy. The shipyard has delivered 105 warships to the Indian Maritime Forces, the highest deliveries by any shipyard in the country, till date. Additionally, 786 platforms have been delivered too. GRSE has had a focus on building In-House capabilities, in the area of design and production. As a pioneer in Indigenous Warship construction programme, the shipbuilder's product line extends its span from technologically sophisticated Frigates and Corvettes to Fast Patrol Vessels. The Indigenization achieved in the Kamorta class Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes delivered by GRSE to the Indian Navy, became the first Warship built in the country with Indigenously developed warship grade steel, earning the distinction of achieving 90% Indigenous equipment fit. It was a major step towards achieving self-reliance in state-of-the-art warship design and construction. The LCUs built by GRSE, designed in-house, has the distinction of over 90 percent indigenous equipment fit as well.

GRSE is poised to continue to strive towards Indigenisation and self-sufficiency in all its future projects focussed on its core verticals of shipbuilding, engineering and engine production.

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