by Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, May 22: India's defence minister A K Anthony has asked the shipbuilding industry to gear up to face the growing requirement of hundreds of ships to Indian Navy and coast guard.
"Shipping scenario is changing very fast. India needs hundreds of ship and also other equipments for the navy and coast guard. We need to get this need from our own shipyard and hence we need to modernize very fast,” the defence minister said while commissioning Indian coast guard's biggest advanced off shore patrol vessel ICGS Sankalp.
Director General of Indian coast guard vice-admiral R F Contractor was also present for the commissioning ceremony held at Mormugao port trust here. The ship is built by M/s Goa shipyard within the target and fixed price without any escalations.
The defence minister said that Indian shipyards need to improve their designing capacity to meet the requirement of coast guard as well as other shipping activities.
"I am sure Goa shipyard and other shipyards can go very fast in the modernization so that in the years to come whatever need arises you will be able to meet at the earliest," he added.
Stating that timely delivery is still a problem with many shipyards, the defence minister said that the delayed deliveries result in cost escalation and whenever there are emergency occasions there is shortage of equipments.
"Timely delivery will be a big achievement," he said addressing a gathering before the formal commissioning of the ship.
Post-function, briefing press persons, defence minister said that Indian policies are aimed to have friendship with all the nations.
"The movement is growing for last four years. While continuing friendship with old friends we are also establishing relations with new countries," he said.
Replying a question about Pakistan, he said that the country being the closest neighbour of India, the latter is for a 'prosporous and stable Pak and for Pakistan to be prosporous India's prosperity is important.
He said that last few years India's relationship with Pakistan is fast improving.
The defence minister hoped that external affairs minister Pranab Mukharjee's visit to Pakistan should be fruitful for both the nations.
ICGS Sankalp which was commissioned is the fifth advanced off -hore patrol vessel of the Indian coast guard equipped with most advanced and sophisticated navigational and communication censors and equipments.