HSL gets Rs. 934-cr contract Santosh Patnaik

Visakhapatnam: In a shot in the arm, Visakhapatnam-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has bagged the contract for normal refit of Sindhukirti submarine at a cost of Rs 934 crore.

The refit has been offloaded to develop an alternate repair facility for submarines and is a further step towards undertaking medium refit with life certification at HSL. The project involves more than 20 MSMEs and will lead to employment generation of 1,000 man-days per day for the project duration.

HSL had successfully completed normal refits of INS Sindhuvir and other submarines. The yard, under the control of the Ministry of Defence, is expected to give orders and material procurement benefiting MSMEs to the tune of Rs 4500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore in next three to four financial years. HSL is also set to take up construction of five Fleet Support Ships totalling a value of around Rs 22,000 crore, thereby improving its cash flows.

A naval release stated that as part of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the Ministry of Defence on Monday signed the contract for normal refit of Sindhukirti submarine at HSL at an overall cost of Rs 934 crore. Sindhukirti is the third Kilo Class Diesel Electric Submarine.