Indian Navy to Set Up New Naval Base at Haldia

In a significant strategic move, the Indian Navy is set to establish a new naval base at Haldia in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, reinforcing India’s maritime security architecture in the northern Bay of Bengal. The decision comes amid evolving regional security dynamics and increasing naval activity in the eastern Indian Ocean region.

Currently, the Indian Navy operates under three major commands: Western Naval Command (Mumbai), Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam), and Southern Naval Command (Kochi). The upcoming Haldia facility will function as a naval detachment, rather than a full-fledged command, with a clear focus on rapid-response coastal and near-sea operations.

Strategic Importance of Haldia

Located approximately 100 km from Kolkata, Haldia offers a major operational advantage. Unlike Kolkata, which requires time-consuming transit through the Hooghly River, Haldia provides faster and more direct access to the Bay of Bengal, making it ideal for quick deployment and surveillance missions.

The base will leverage the existing Haldia dock complex, allowing the Navy to operationalise the facility quickly with minimal additional infrastructure. Initial development will include the construction of a dedicated naval jetty and shore-support facilities.

High-Speed Naval Assets to Be Deployed

The Haldia base is expected to host a fleet of Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) and 300-tonne New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (NWJFACs). These vessels are designed for high-speed operations, capable of reaching speeds of 40–45 knots, and are suited for coastal defence, interception, surveillance, and rapid strike missions.

The crafts are armed with CRN-91 guns and are likely to be equipped with loitering munition systems such as Nagastra, significantly enhancing their surveillance and precision strike capabilities.

A 100-ton small warship with a top speed of 45 nautical miles is also expected to be stationed at the base, further strengthening the Navy’s operational flexibility in the region.

Compact but Capable Facility

The base will have an estimated strength of around 100 naval officers and sailors, indicating a compact yet highly capable operational unit. Its primary role will be to enhance India’s maritime domain awareness and provide a swift response capability in the northern Bay of Bengal, especially in light of regional security concerns involving neighbouring countries.

Part of a Larger Naval Expansion

The Haldia naval base aligns with the Indian Navy’s broader modernisation and expansion plans. In 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of 120 Fast Interceptor Crafts and 31 NWJFACs, underlining India’s focus on strengthening its coastal and littoral combat capabilities.

Bengal’s Growing Strategic Role

With major naval facilities already operating on the eastern seaboard, including the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam and strategic assets in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the addition of Haldia further cements West Bengal’s importance in India’s defence and maritime strategy.

Once again, Bengal stands at the forefront of national security and strategic development, quietly, steadily, and decisively.