Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was the chief guest here at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahe, marking the new generation of indigenous shallow-water combatants - sleek, swift and resolutely Indian

INS Mahe`s commissioning not only marks the induction of a potent new platform to the country`s maritime order of battle, but it also reaffirms India`s maritime capability to design, construct and field complex combatants with indigenous technologies, Gen Dwivedi said

The commissioning will significantly augment the Indian Navy`s ability to ensure near-seas dominance, strengthen the coastal security grid and safeguard India`s maritime interests across the vast expanse of the country`s littoral waters. It also reaffirms the Navy`s steadfast transformation into a builder`s Navy, the one that designs, constructs and sustains its own combat platform, he added

An official told the PTI that this was also the first time that an Army chief was present at the commissioning of a naval ship

Following the ceremony, Gen Dwivedi also awarded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation to the Navy personnel who played a key role in the commissioning of the ship, a rarity which will become more frequent in the days to come as the level of synergy among the three forces increases, the official said