Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissions Coast Guard patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’ in Chennai

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated six bridges along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath said - despite firing, work completed on time

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the indigenously built Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vigraha’ in Chennai on Saturday. Speaking on this occasion, the Minister said that the commissioning of the ship showcases significant improvement in coastal defence capability as also the ever increasing self-reliance in the defence sector.

At the ship’s commissioning ceremony in Chennai, Rajnath Singh said, “The journey of growth of our Indian Coast Guard, which began with a modest 5-7 small boats, has today grown to over 20,000 active personnel, over 150 vessels, and a fleet of over 65 aircrafts.” The Minister appreciated the Coast Guard for not only protecting the fishing community but also for the assistance of the department of customs and other authorities in protecting the islands and terminals. Rajnath Singh said he had a firm belief that ‘Vigraha’ would become a “successful watchdog of the coastal borders of our country”. “The word ‘Vigraha’ has very beautiful interpretations in our texts. On the one hand, its meaning has been told to be ‘free from any kind of bondage’, on the other hand, it has also been interpreted to mean the specific ‘bondage of one’s duty and obligations’,” Rajnath Singh said. The 100-metre long indigenously designed ship has been fitted with state of the art navigation system useful for patrolling the coastal borders. The 98-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), with a complement of 11 officers and 110 sailors, has been designed and built by Larsen & Toubro Ship Building Limited.

From its design conception to development, the ship is completely indigenous. The sensors and machinery present in the ship make it capable of operating in tropical sea conditions, it added. Moreover, in a significant boost to the defence capabilities of the armed forces, the Vigraha indigenous vessel has also been designed to carry one twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats for the purpose of boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime patrol.Vigraha is seventh in the series of OPVs, starting from ‘Vikram’, ‘Vijay’, ‘Veer’, ‘Varaha’, ‘Varad’ and ‘Vajra’.