Visit Of Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief Southern Naval Command To Ins Shivaji, Lonavla

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE- Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, accompanied by Mrs Sapana Chawla, President, NWWA -Southern Region visited INS Shivaji, Lonavla from 12 to 14 Dec 18. The Flag Officer Commanding-in- Chief was presented a Return Call Guard after which he reviewed various Training facilities at INS Shivaji and NBCD School and also visited the co-located Hospital Ship INHS Kasturi.

Adm Chawla inaugurated two new Station facilities – a modern Fuel Dispensing Station, constructed by IOC, named after Lakshman, Mech 3, a 1971 War Vr Chakra awardee and a fully mechanised laundry for INHS Kasturi named ‘Tvesa’. He also inaugurated a renovated in-living officers’ accomodation block named after Cdr BR Choudhury, EO Vikrant during 1971 War who was a recipient of MVC and the Senior Sailors’ Galley & Dining hall post major Special Repairs.  Other highlights of the visit included laying of the foundation stone for a new Fire Station to be named after Cdr MO Ommen who was a Vir Chakra awardee (posthumous) during 1971 War. The Commander-in-Chief interacted with all the  officers, sailors, defence civilians and trainees, including international trainees during the visit.

A special ‘Milan’ was organised in honour of Mrs Sapana Chawla where she interacted with all the ladies of the Station. She also interacted with the children and presented gifts to two girl children of Antar Bharti Balgram Orphanage who have been adopted by INS Shivaji. She later paid a special visit to Balwadi, a school meant for children of low income group families and distributed toys to the children. Mrs Chawla also inaugurated the renovated Community Hall for Defence civilians named ‘Tagore Bhawan’ and the VIP Guest House ‘Sahyadri’.

The Commander-in-Chief appreciated the efforts by Shivaji and NBCD School in imparting high standard of professional training as also the Station’s dedication towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He urged the entire Establishment to continue the momentum and enhance the professional skills of young trainees and groom them for the future Navy. The Admiral also complimented INHS Kasturi for providing excellent patient care to the entire community of Station Lonavala.