The National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (Nirdesh) at Chaliyam here is awaiting the Union Cabinet’s nod to expand its activities. The amount for the works, Rs.200 crore, has already been sanctioned by the Union Finance Ministry. But the Cabinet has to take a final call, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely has informed M.K. Raghavan, Kozhikode MP.
Mr. Raghavan met Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and submitted a memorandum in this regard on Tuesday.
The institute is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Department of Defence Production, Union Ministry of Defence.
The State government had allotted 40 acres of land free of cost for establishing the Rs.600-crore project. Now, the Cabinet should take a decision as soon as possible, Mr. Raghavan said.
Design centre
Official sources said that Nirdesh was all set is to begin designing of vessels for the Indian Navy. It would begin with preparing standard designs for a range of small vessels used by the Navy for patrolling. Besides, it would also design harbour vessels, tugs, ferries and survey ships. A design expert would be engaged on contractual basis for two years to set up the design centre and to commence designing of ships. Nirdesh is the first-of-its-kind project in the country. Former Union Minister of Defence A.K. Antony laid the foundation in 2011. It was the biggest project announced in the district in the past 10 years. Now its activities have been confined to imparting training on shipbuilding.
Nirdesh, registered as a society, is supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation, Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Mazagon Dock Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited. The objective of the Nirdesh is to conduct research and development relating to warships, submarines and other related platforms in order to strengthen indigenous defence production capabilities.
