GRSE launches ‘first of its kind’ portable (assault) bridge

Kolkata: Moving forward with the aim of Atmanirbharta, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a Miniratna PSU and premier warship builder of the nation, has launched a "First of its Kind" portable bridge (Assault) on Thursday. The bridge was virtually launched by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at GRSE's corporate office in Kolkata. This is a major milestone towards achieving Self Reliance. During the launch GRSE's Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) 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.

The salient features and advantages of this assault bridge are that it has a span of 30 feet (9.15 m), the width of 2.10 m and weight of 336 kg. It also has a load capacity of IRC-6, 400 kg/sqm (Foot Bridge) and 1.10 MT of ATV. The bridge is Man – Portable and reusable using Crew of 10-12. This assault bridge will be an ideal solution for forwarding areas and disaster relief management.

Apart from shipbuilding and ship repair, GRSE is the only Defence Shipyard to have diversified into engineering business with a product profile of pre-fabricated steel bridges. Bailey Bridge Unit of the shipyard is engaged in designing, developing and installing bailey bridges to far-flung areas and terrain in India and abroad having delivered over 5,300 bailey bridges to the Indian Army, BRO, Central and State PWDs and also friendly neighbourhood countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Recently, the Bailey Bridge division has designed and developed a new product, the "Portable (Assault) Bridge". This bridge is made of carbon fibre polymer composite material and can be used by pedestrians and light vehicles.

"GRSE portable assault bridge is made of carbon fibre polymer composite material and can be used by pedestrians and light vehicles. The salient features and advantages of this assault bridge are that it has a span of 30 feet (9.15 m), the width of 2.10 m and weight of 336 kg. It also has a load capacity of IRC-6, 400 kg/sqm (Foot Bridge) and 1.10 MT of ATV. The bridge is Man – Portable and reusable using Crew of 10-12"

GRSE has undertaken major modernisation of infrastructure at its main unit with modular integrated construction technology. Celebrating the "Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan", a State-of-the-Art Modern Hull Block Complex and Indigenous underwater CNC plasma cutting facility were virtually inaugurated by Defence Minister at the Rajabagan Dockyard Unit of GRSE on August 10, to augment the existing infrastructure at the main unit of the shipyard. Thus a step towards concurrent construction of 24 ships from the existing capacity of 20 has been initiated. GRSE has a dedicated, multidisciplinary, strong design team which is continuously working towards developing various concept designs for ships, deck machinery items and pre-fabricated bridges that can cater to the current and future requirement of its existing and prospective customers in India and friendly foreign countries.

GRSE 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 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.

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