Naman Car Rally concludes at GRSE, celebrating India’s 100th indigenous warship milestone

New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s Naman Car Rally 2025 concluded on Monday at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, marking a symbolic tribute to India’s journey towards self-reliance in warship design and construction. The rally, organised to commemorate the commissioning of the 100th indigenous warship built in India, by India, and for India, ended at GRSE, the shipyard that has contributed the largest share of these platforms.

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Flagged off from the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal on October 29, the rally covered India’s coastline, with halt points at Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kanyakumari, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. The rallyists were ceremonially flagged-in at GRSE by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A), Indian Navy.

Senior dignitaries from the Navy and GRSE were present, including Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE; Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding); Capt (IN) P Sunilkumar (Retd.), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel); Shri Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO; Rear Admiral Sujit Bakshi, DG WDB; and Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, ACWP&A.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Admiral Swaminathan said GRSE was the “most fitting place” for the rally to culminate.

“GRSE is not only one of the oldest shipyards in the country, but one of the finest examples of what sustained excellence can achieve. This is where the first indigenous warship, INS Ajay, was built in 1961,” he said. He added that the shipyard continues to support the Navy’s quest for self-reliance, with its recent deliveries ranging from stealth frigates to Survey Vessel (Large) platforms.

GRSE’s legacy is closely interwoven with India’s naval modernisation. Of the 100 indigenous warships commissioned into the Navy, the bulk have been delivered by GRSE. The commissioning of INS Himgiri, the advanced guided missile frigate built under Project 17A, is counted by the Navy as the symbolic 100th milestone when INS Udaygiri joined the fleet. INS Himgiri was GRSE’s 73rd warship delivery. Following this, the shipyard has delivered two more platforms, including Androth, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. The most recent induction was INS Ikshak, a Survey Vessel Large, commissioned on November 6.

Currently, GRSE is constructing 13 warships, with nine in various stages of outfitting. The shipyard is also awaiting the official order for five Next Generation Corvettes, for which it has emerged as the lowest bidder.

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