Indian yards to be upgraded

India?s three strategic shipyards – Mazagaon Docks, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard – which are engaged in building warships, will be modernised and upgraded to the level of shipyards in Europe, Japan and Korea.

The defence ministry has decided to plan for the second phase of modernization even though the current round of initiatives has not yet been concluded. The second round of upgrading these shipyards will be initiated by 2010-11.

“It will take another 2-3 years for the current round of modernisation to be completed. Total investment involved is about Rs 1,000 crore. We intend to conclude the plans for the second modernisation phase before the first wave is complete. This will help us prepare better for the second round,” SKK Krishnan, chairman and managing director of Mazagaon Docks, said. The defence department has appointed Mazagaon Dock as the co-ordinating agency that will appoint a consultant for laying out the details of this master modernisation plan.

The three docks manufacture warships including destroyers, frigates, submarines, corvettes, landing ship tanks, offshore patrol vessels and fast patrol vessels for the Indian Navy.