Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is synonymous with development and progress. At the same time, he is also trying to get the maximum benefit of the alliance with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
Apparently, Naidu had made the right moves and now, India is planning to commission its strategic new naval base for nuclear submarines and other warships in coastal Andhra Prades next year. The decision was taken to counter China’s ever-expanding naval foray into the Indian Ocean Region. At the same time, the nation is also strengthening and upgrading the Karwar base in Karnataka on the western side.
Vizag has always been a strategic point for strengthening the naval base, being the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. The new naval base is being planned at Rambilli, a non-descript village on the coast, about 50 km south from Vizag. It has underground pens and a network of tunnels to house nuclear submarines.
The strategic base will enable submarines to quietly slip into the Bay of Bengal without detection of the spy satellites. From here, they can move towards the critical Malacca Strait and beyond. The development of the Rambilli will be taken up under Project Varsha. It will then be upgraded in phases, akin to that being done at the Karwar base under Project Seabird.
The expansion of Project Seabird, in the second phase, will enable Karwar to berth 32 warships. With the port, Eastern Naval base and submarine base, along with establishment of IT firms and academic activity, Vizag will soon become an operations hub in various sectors.
Increased activity would indirectly mean more job opportunities. This will help the TDP coalition government fulfil its poll promise of employment generation and also improve the per capita income of the people, putting the state on the progressive path.
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