The first two submarines would be built in the docks based on the initial designs and with full technological and equipment input from France.
NEW DELHI: Submarine construction is set to kick-start in Mumbai almost two decades after Mazagon Docks’ ambitious submarine building facility froze into inaction in the mid-80s amidst allegations of kickbacks in the HDW deal with Germany.
The formal inauguration of the Rs 18,000 crore contract for the French submarines is expected around December 15 at the Mazagon Docks, senior navy officers said. Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta on Saturday said “in 15 days or so” the construction of the first of the six Scorpene submarines would start in Mumbai.
The first two submarines would be built in the docks based on the initial designs and with full technological and equipment input from France. The steel for the submarine has already arrived from France, sources said.
The submarine would be the first of the six submarines in the over $3.5 billion contract signed last year. From the third submarine onwards the Navy would incorporate design changes and aggressively pursue integration of indigenous technology.
After six years of discussions, the deal was signed in October 6 last year. However, the deal ran into controversy when a section of the media raised allegations that the deal had middlemen who were also involved in the Naval War Room Leak. Though DNA had exposed the entire War Room leak, where naval officers and arms dealers were leaking national secrets, the paper never claimed any links between the submarine purchase and the War Room leak.
Sources here said the Mazagon Docks would be deploying about 150 officers and over 1000 works-men to carry out the mammoth construction. In the mid-80s, the docks developed a full-fledged facility for submarine construction as part of the contract with the German HDW.
However, the HDW contract was frozen after two of them were built in Mumbai because of allegations of corruption in the entire deal.
Ever since, the submarine line has been lying vacant at the Mazagon docks, except for occasional refit of existing submarine fleet.
However, with the steel cutting, now tentatively slated for December 15, Mumbai would be the nerve-centre of India’s aggressive efforts to acquire underwater capabilities.
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