INS Varsha

As early as in 2005, Project Varsha base was planned to be located within a radius of approximately {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Visakhapatnam in order to de-congest the Visakhapatnam Port, which is being used by both the Navy and the civilian Ministry of Shipping. The Navy's dockyards at Vizag was facing shortage of berthing space due to the rapid expansion of the Eastern fleet, which grew from 15 major warships in 2006 to 46 in 2012, and is still expanding. Initially, Gangavaram, {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Visakhapatnam, was considered for the new base,{{cite web | author= Sudha Ramachandran | title= India navy drops another anchor | url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HJ17Df02.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061018004509/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HJ17Df02.html | url-status= unfit | archive-date= 18 October 2006 | work= Asia Times | date= 17 October 2006 | access-date=20 April 2009}} but Rambilli was chosen as the final location to construct the naval base.

INS Varsha will have a large near-by facility of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and will include modern nuclear engineering support facilities and extensive crew accommodation. It is designed to support the fleet of over 12 nuclear ballistic missile submarine and nuclear attack submarines to be built for the Indian Navy within a network of underground pens in the Eastern Ghats. This would avoid detection of the submarines during satellite and aerial surveillance as well as protect them from enemy air attacks.{{cite web|date=December 9, 2012|title=India's Secret warship base commissioned to protect assets in South China Sea|url=http://stratrisks.com/geostrat/9784|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815121207/http://stratrisks.com/geostrat/9784|archive-date=15 August 2013|access-date=4 July 2013|publisher=Telegraph India. Strat risks}} With the operationalisation of the base, submarines can be deployed into the waters of the Bay of Bengal stealthily without needing to surface. This is because of the natural depth of the region which would act like a "cloak".{{Cite news |date=2025-04-07 |title=India to build underground nuclear submarine fortress to counter China as Bangladesh offers air base to Beijing near Chicken Neck |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-to-build-underground-nuclear-submarine-fortress-to-counter-china-as-bangladesh-offers-air-base-to-beijing-near-chicken-neck/articleshow/120058867.cms |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}{{Cite news |date=2025-04-07 |title=India plans to set up nuclear submarine base in Andhra Pradesh next year |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-plans-to-set-up-nuclear-submarine-base-in-andhra-pradesh-next-year/articleshow/120046893.cms |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

While designed principally as a nuclear submarine support facility, the new base will also accommodate additional surface naval vessels after the ongoing construction of piers. Comparable to the top-secret Hainan nuclear submarine base of the Chinese PLA Navy, this east coast base expansion programme by the Indian Navy was started due to India's Look East policy and the Chinese naval expansion into the region.{{cite web | author= Vivek Raghuvanshi | title= Eying China, India Plans New East Coast Navy Bases | url= http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5189187&c=SEA&s=TOP | work= Home | publisher= DefenseNews | date= 8 December 2010 | access-date=16 December 2010}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Project Varsha is being undertaken to enhance India's navy capabilities on the Eastern Coast of India. For the Western Coast of India, similar expansion are being undertaken under the Project Seabird for the INS Kadamba at Karwar.

Project Varsha Phase-I:

: In 2011-12, the phase-I commenced with allocation of {{INRConvert|160|c|year=2011|0}} {{INRConvert|58|c|year=2011|0}} for civil works and {{INRConvert|100|c|year=2011|0}} for a VLF communication system,{{cite news|last=Malhotra|first=Jyoti|date=12 August 2013|title=How India's pride INS Arihant was built|newspaper=Business Standard|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/ins-arihant-a-classic-example-of-defence-collaborations-113081100745_1.html|access-date=12 August 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20171218-india-ballistic-missile-submarine-k-6-submarine-launched-drdo-1102085-2017-12-10|title=A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=December 10, 2017|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-07-03}} subsequently additional funding was progressively released to expand the naval base which was completed in 2025 and was set to be commissioned in 2026 on the eastern coast of India.

Project Varsha Phase-II:

: In 2018, , 670 hectares of forest land in Rambilli were allocated for building a strategic technical area and command center for the Indian Navy under phase-II, as well as 845 ha for BARC's Nuclear Marine and Submarine Missile R&D complex {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} away,{{Cite news|last=Vishnoi|first=Anubhuti|last2=Pubby|first2=Manu|date=10 January 2018|title=Big Boost for India's secret nuclear submarine base|work=The Print|url=https://theprint.in/2018/01/10/big-boost-india-secret-nuclear-submarine-base/|access-date=11 January 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Amin |first=Zubair |date=2024-11-28 |title=INS Varsha: Underground Nuclear Submarine Base In Bay of Bengal– India’s Answer To China’s Naval Ambitions? |url=https://www.newsx.com/india/ins-varsha-underground-nuclear-submarine-base-in-bay-of-bengal-indias-answer-to-chinas-naval-ambitions/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=NewsX World |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Palve |first=Shubhangi |date=2024-12-09 |title=Indian Navy's 1st Nuclear Submarine Base To Be Ready In 2 Years; 'Made In India' Nuke Attack Sub By 2036 |url=https://www.eurasiantimes.com/indias-strategic-naval-expansion-indigenou/?amp |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=EURASIAN TIMES |language=en-US}}

• Andaman and Nicobar Command
• INS Baaz, Indian base closest to Indonesia

• Eastern Command
• INS Satavahana, at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh

• Western Command
• INS Jatayu, at Minicoy in Lakshyadweep
• INS Kadamba, at Karawar in Karnataka
• INS Vajrabahu, at Mumbai in Maharashtra

{{Reflist}}

{{Indian Navy}}

Varsha