In a strategic move to enhance maritime security in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Navy is set to establish a new naval base in the port city of Haldia, West Bengal. This initiative comes amid rising Chinese naval activities in the northern Bay of Bengal and increased military engagements between Bangladesh and Pakistan, sources from India Today have revealed.

The new naval base will be located approximately 100 kilometers from Kolkata, enabling rapid deployment of Indian naval forces from the Hooghly River to the Bay of Bengal. Utilizing the existing Haldia dock complex will provide operational advantages while minimizing the need for extensive new infrastructure development.

According to senior Indian naval officials, the base will house several fast interceptor crafts (FICs) and new water jet fast attack crafts (NWJFACs), capable of speeds between 40 to 45 knots (approximately 74 to 83 km/h). These vessels rank among the fastest military naval crafts globally and will be equipped with advanced weaponry, including the CRN-91 automatic machine gun and India’s indigenous Nagastra suicidal drone system.

The facility will accommodate around 100 naval personnel, maintaining a constant presence to safeguard regional maritime interests. The establishment of this base is a precautionary response to China's growing naval footprint in the Indian Ocean, recent military cooperation agreements between China and Bangladesh, and increased interactions between Bangladesh and Pakistan, India Today reported.

This strategic development underscores India’s commitment to maintaining regional stability and securing its maritime borders against evolving geopolitical challenges in the Bay of Bengal.

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