Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, inaugurated significant infrastructure developments at Naval Base Karwar on October 15, 2026, as part of Project Seabird Phase IIA. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya, Director General Seabird, and other senior officers.
The newly inaugurated facilities include five residential towers providing 300 dwelling units for Naval Defence Civilians and a Station Health Organisation Complex that augments the existing INHS Patanjali hospital to a capacity of 409 beds. These facilities are supported by critical infrastructure including a Two Lakh Litre Hill Top Water Reservoir and a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
Additionally, the base now features a contemporary integrated Solid Waste Management Facility and new access gate with bridge infrastructure designed to facilitate four-lane vehicular traffic while providing dedicated pedestrian and cycle pathways. These developments address the growing strength of Karwar Naval Base and its requirements for environmental conformity and smooth access.
These infrastructure elements form part of the ongoing Phase IIA of Project Seabird, whose comprehensive scope includes construction of a dual-use Naval Air Station, a full-fledged Naval Dockyard, and extensive logistics facilities for ships and aircraft. The naval base currently houses approximately 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel with their families, and the project is expected to significantly boost the local economy, industry, and tourism in the Uttara Kannada region while creating numerous direct and indirect job opportunities.
The project demonstrates compliance with environmental norms set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), with the project targeting IGBC Gold rating upon completion. Notably, the project aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by sourcing over 90% of materials and equipment domestically.