The Rs 5,000-crore alternative naval base at Rambilli area in Visakhapatnam district will be ready by 2018, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Chief of Eastern Naval Command, told mediapersons here on Wednesday on the eve of Navy Day.
"We have started the construction of some of the naval establishments. After completion of this project, some of the shore-based establishments located in Vizag is likely to shift to the new base at Rambilli," he said.
Stating there was no proposal to establish a naval air station there, he said, the Navy had decided to set up a new air station at Bobbili in Vizianagaram district with an investment of Rs 200-300 crore. Bobbili has an old airstrip, which has not been in use for a long time. The state government has already given its consent to hand over this airstrip to Navy for their use, he said.
The ENC is hosting an international naval exercise during February in Visakhapatnam.
