India plans new naval outpost in Bay of Bengal
India is planning to set up a new naval facility in Haldia, West Bengal, as part of efforts to bolster maritime surveillance amid growing Chinese naval activity and evolving regional dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to defence sources quoted by India Today.
The proposed facility is aimed at strengthening India’s operational reach in the northern Bay of Bengal, a region of rising strategic importance due to increased commercial shipping, energy routes and military presence by external powers. Rather than a full-fledged naval command, the installation will function as a naval detachment, focusing on surveillance, patrol and rapid response missions.
The Indian Navy intends to use the existing Haldia Dock Complex, enabling the base to be made operational quickly with limited new construction. Plans include building a dedicated jetty and establishing essential shore-based support infrastructure in the initial phase.
Around 100 naval officers and sailors are expected to be stationed at the facility, making it a relatively small unit but one with significant strategic value. Haldia’s location, about 100 kilometres from Kolkata, offers direct access to the Bay of Bengal and allows naval assets to bypass the time-consuming navigation of the Hooghly River, improving response times.
Fast Interceptor Craft and 300-tonne New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft will be deployed at the base. Capable of speeds of up to 40–45 knots, these vessels are designed for high-speed coastal operations and can carry 10 to 12 personnel each. They will be used for maritime patrols, port and offshore asset security, anti-infiltration missions and special operations, and will be armed with CRN-91 guns.
The move is part of the Indian Navy’s broader expansion and modernisation programme, which seeks to enhance coastal defence, protect critical sea lanes and maintain a credible presence in the Bay of Bengal amid intensifying regional competition.
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