Port Blair, Jan 24: INS Kohassa was commissioned on 24 Jan 19 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur, by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM,AVSM, ADC in the presence of Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, AVSM, ADC, Commander -in- Chief, Andaman Nicobar Command (CINCAN). On the occasion, the ship’s name plaque was unveiled by Mrs Reena Lanba, President Naval Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), before reading of the ship’s warrant of commission by the Commanding Officer INS Kohassa, Commander Kuldeep Tripathi. The unit’s name has been derived from the white- bellied sea eagle, Kohassa, which is a large bird of prey endemic to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The new Air Traffic Control (ATC) building along with the requisite facilities was also inaugurated by the Naval Chief.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of Naval Staff highlighted the importance of the newly raised unit as it enhances the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy in the region and pointed out that the Naval Air Station has been developed as a dual use – military and civil – airfield. He said that, it will help in providing impetus to the UDAN scheme of Government of India and will complement Indian Navy’s role as a net service provider in the Indian Ocean Region. Along with the other air bases in the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), INS Kohassa will add to the ANC’s ability to react quickly to emergent situations, said the CINCAN while addressing the gathering.
Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur was identified by NITI Aayog as one of the ‘Early Bird’ projects as part of holistic development plan of the Islands. The extension of the runway to 10, 000 ft is also planned in the near future to facilitate operations of wide-bodied aircrafts.
