Kochi: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier – INS Vikrant – the largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history, will be commissioned here on Friday, September 2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived here on Thursday, will commission the warship, housing state-of-the-art automation features and built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore, at the Cochin Shipyard.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kochi International Airport on a two-day visit to Kerala. Photo: PTI.
The Prime Minister will also unveil the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), doing away with the colonial past on the occasion.
Also read: How the Indian Navy’s Ensign Evolved Over the Years
Modi has described September 2 as a “landmark day for India’s efforts to become Aatmanirbhar in the defence sector” as the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will be commissioned.
A host of dignitaries including defence minister Rajnath, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Kerala governor Arif Mohamad Khan, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar and top officials of the Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) will attend the one-and-a-half hour long commissioning ceremony being organised at the shipyard.
(PTI)