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Vikarabad, Oct.15 (PMI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of a new Very Low Frequency (VLF) Radar Station of the Indian Navy at Puduru village of Damagundam Reserve Forest in Vikarabad district on Tuesday.
The facility, built at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore, will be spread across 2,900 acres. It will bolster the Indian Navy’s operational readiness, ensuring effective command and control capabilities in challenging maritime environments. It will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Naval communication infrastructure, enabling reliable and secure transmission over long distances.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the VLF station would expand the military capabilities of the country, proving to be a boon to the Armed Forces.
He asserted that the high-tech VLF station, once operational, would not just be a military establishment, but a strategic asset of national importance.
“Effective coordination between men and machines is becoming extremely important in view of the evolving methods of warfare. This VLF station is being built with the vision of securing our maritime interests. It will ensure secure and real-time communication between our ships and submarines with the command centres of the Armed Forces. A fool-proof communication proves to be a decisive factor between victory and defeat. Without real time communication, we cannot gain an edge despite having adequate equipment or manpower,” Rajnath Singh said.
Further highlighting the significance of a strong communication system, the Defence Minister termed it as pivotal for coordination in any complex operation.
He emphasised that a clear and secure communication channel not only helps in timely and effective decision making, but also an important medium to convey the orders of the command to the field formations and obtain the feedback.
“During crisis management, a clear communication channel is the key. It becomes even more necessary when the situation is dynamic and the response time is very less. These things are historically proven. We’re learning from the past and striving for future security and prosperity,” he added.
Allaying concerns about the impact of the project on the environment, Rajnath Singh stated that all environmental conditions are being taken care of. It is being ensured that arrangements will be made for the rehabilitation of the affected people, if needed, at the time of construction, he added.
Rajnath Singh said the VLF station will open new vistas of employment and economic development for the local population.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy lambasted the BRS party for staging protests against the VLF Radar Station and said that his government would not allow politics in the matter of national security.
“The same kind of VLF Station was started in Tamil Nadu in 1990. Since then, there has been no hardship or loss to the people there. But, some people in Telangana are trying to dispute the issue in many ways and also planning to create misconceptions about the radar station,” CM Revanth Reddy said.
“Our parties may be different and ideologies may be different. But, we should always work together in the matter of national security and defence. Hyderabad has a good reputation for manufacturing national defence equipments. Vikarabad district is the most strategic area for the formation of VLF,” Revanth Reddy said.
The Chief Minister also urged the environmentalists not to politicise the issue and extend their cooperation for the VLF Radar Station project as it is related to the national security.
He reiterated that the Congress government would fully support the VLF project to take it forward and called for the project to be taken forward irrespective of the parties.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Minister Konda Surekha, senior Navy officials and others participated in the programme. (PMI)
