INS MAKAR (J31) is India's first twin hull indigenously built survey catamaran to be built in India, the vessel is being used for hydro-graphic survey by the Indian Navy

The first ship has to be delivered in 36 months' time from the date of signing the contract

Kolkata: The contract for the four large survey vessels to be built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy is expected to be signed by the middle of the current year with the first vessel of the series slated to be delivered within 2021.

This was informed by GRSE chairman and managing director Rear Admiral (retired) Vipin Kumar Saxena on Saturday. Emerging as the lowest bidder, the GRSE won the contract of Rs 2,500-crore project in 2017.

Water Wonder: The front view of INS Makar (J31)
Image result for Alcock Ashdown Limited"We have completed the CNC process with the Ministry of Defence. We hope that the contract would be signed in next few months, the middle of this year. The first ship has to be delivered in 36 months' time from the date of signing the contract. It will be followed by each ship in every six months," Saxena said.

He was speaking after the launch of fast patrol vessel: Annie Besant for the Indian Coast Guard at the GRSE's Rajabagan Dock Yard in presence of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Eastern Command) Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna and his wife Bibha Krishna at a ceremony.

Speaking about the Rs 5500-crore contract for building eight Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) shallow water crafts for the Indian Navy, Saxena elaborated, "The contract for the project will be signed in a three-four months' time after the signing of the contract for four large survey vessels. As far as the built-period is concerned for this project, the first ASW shallow water craft will be delivered after 42 months' time and one in every six months thereafter."

Once both the contracts are signed, they will add Rs 8,000 crores to the GRSE's present order book of Rs 21,000 crores, Saxena underlined.

On the GRSE's production growth he added, "We now expect to double the value of our production which was over Rs 900 crores in the last year (2017)."