Kolkata (06 March, 2026): The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Rajnath Singh, visited the shipyard, on Thursday, 05 Mar 26, and in his honour, a vibrant in-house cultural programme was presented by employees of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) and their family members at the GRSE Bhavan, Kolkata. The programme celebrated the rich cultural ethos, unity and creative spirit of the GRSE family and reflected the deep-rooted bond between the shipyard and its people.
Among the distinguished dignitaries present on the occasion were Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE; Cdr Shantanu Bose, Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE; Niranjan Bhalerao, Director (Finance), GRSE, Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, Chief Vigilance Officer, GRSE, M. Venkatesh Murthy, Executive Director (Commercial Shipbuilding & Supply Chain Management), GRSE along with senior officials and employees of GRSE.
On the occasion, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri felicitated the participants of the cultural programme and appreciated the fact that the event was conceptualised, curated and performed entirely by employees and their family members. He commended Team GRSE for exemplifying excellence not only in shipbuilding but also in nurturing a vibrant organisational culture rooted in collective participation and shared pride.
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Rajnath Singh said, “GRSE is one of the oldest shipyards in the country, and for over 150 years, it has contributed significantly to the nation. Whether for the Indian Navy or the Indian Coast Guard, you have built numerous warships and vessels that strengthen India’s maritime security. Your contribution is not limited to shipbuilding alone — it also supports the nation’s blue economy. Your work reflects dedication, talent, and patriotism. There is no substitute for hard work. And I can see that hard work is deeply embedded in your culture. A person with a lively and spirited heart never tires easily. Even after physical exhaustion, inner enthusiasm keeps one moving forward. That is why GRSE is recognised as one of the best PSUs in India.”
Subsequently, on the sidelines of the event, Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, stated that this marks the second visit of the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri to GRSE. He recalled that GRSE had the distinct honour of hosting Rajnath Singh during the launch of Dunagiri, the second Project 17A Advanced Frigate, on 15 July 2022. He further informed that this warship, built with state-of-the-art indigenous capabilities, will be delivered to the Indian Navy soon, reinforcing India’s maritime preparedness. He also mentioned that the 1st Survey Vessel (Large), INS Sandhayak was commissioned at Visakhapatnam on 03 Feb 2024, and 1st P17A Advanced Frigate INS Himgiri was commissioned at Visakhapatnam on 26 Aug 2025, both in the august presence of Hon’ble Raksha Mantri.
The visit of the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri marks another significant milestone in GRSE’s journey as a strategic pillar of India’s maritime strength. Anchored in engineering excellence and propelled by digital transformation, GRSE continues to chart a confident course towards building technologically advanced, indigenously designed platforms for a secure and self-reliant India.
