• Defence Ministry signs ₹498.58 crore contract for INS Betwa.
• Cochin Shipyard to replace steam propulsion with diesel engines.
• Modernised weapon suite to enhance combat capabilities.
• More than 50 MSMEs expected to participate in the project.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Nov: The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹498.58 crore contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the normal refit and re-powering of Indian Navy warship INS Betwa, marking a major step towards strengthening indigenous naval maintenance capabilities.

The contract was signed in New Delhi on Tuesday in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Under the project, INS Betwa, a Brahmaputra-class frigate, will undergo a major transformation of its propulsion system. Its existing steam-based propulsion system will be replaced with a diesel-engine-based system to improve operational capabilities.

The refit will also include the modernisation of the ship’s combat capabilities through the installation of an upgraded weapon suite. The improvements are expected to enhance the warship’s operational effectiveness and strengthen its service readiness.

The project is also expected to benefit India’s domestic ship repair and maintenance sector. More than 50 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are likely to participate, generating employment opportunities across the country’s shipbuilding and ancillary industries.

The Ministry of Defence said the initiative would strengthen indigenous expertise in complex propulsion system transformation and the modernisation of naval platforms.

The project aligns with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, while reinforcing India’s domestic capabilities in naval ship repair, maintenance and modernisation.