Kolkata: Reinforcing its commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat and indigenous shipbuilding, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. has taken a significant leap in digital ship design and construction with the inauguration of its Next Generation Virtual Reality (NGVR) Lab at its Main Works Unit in Kolkata. The state-of-the-art facility marks a major milestone in strengthening India’s self-reliant, technology-driven warship design and production ecosystem.
NGVR Lab Inaugurated by Indian Navy’s Warship Production Chief
The Next Generation VR Lab was inaugurated on Thursday, January 15, 2026, by Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, AVSM, NM, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A), Indian Navy.
Senior dignitaries present at the event included:
- Cmde P.R. Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE
- Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE
- Capt (IN) P. Sunilkumar (Retd), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), GRSE
- Niranjan Bhalerao, Director (Finance), GRSE
Senior officials from the Indian Navy and GRSE
The inauguration reflects the Indian Navy’s continued emphasis on adopting advanced digital technologies to enhance warship design, construction efficiency, and lifecycle management.
Upgrade from Existing VR Lab to Next-Generation Facility
GRSE has been operating a Virtual Reality Lab since 2018. However, with rapid advancements in ship design tools and digital shipbuilding technologies, the shipyard undertook a comprehensive upgrade to transform the existing facility into a Next Generation VR Lab.
This upgrade forms part of GRSE’s long-term strategy to remain future-ready and to deliver modern, technologically advanced platforms that meet the evolving operational requirements of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations.
Immersive 1:1 Scale Visualization Transforms Design Reviews
The NGVR Lab enables immersive, true 1:1 scale visualization of ship designs, allowing designers, engineers, and naval stakeholders to virtually experience ship compartments, onboard systems, equipment layouts, and operational workflows with unmatched realism.
This capability transforms conventional design reviews into an intelligent, data-driven process, significantly improving early-stage design validation, reducing rework, and enhancing coordination between multiple disciplines involved in shipbuilding.
Digital Twin Enables Real-Time Validation Across Ship Lifecycle
At the core of the NGVR Lab is a continuously evolving Digital Twin, seamlessly synchronized with design, engineering, and construction data.
Even while physical construction of a ship is underway, the digital twin enables real-time validation of:
- Internal layouts and clearances
- Equipment installation and integration
- Accessibility and maintainability
- Safety and ergonomic considerations
This lifecycle-based approach supports ship development from concept design to construction and future upgrades, ensuring consistency and quality throughout.
Augmented Reality Brings Digital Models to the Shop Floor
The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) further extends the digital twin into the physical construction environment. Virtual ship models can be superimposed directly onto real-world structures on the shop floor, assisting in:
- Precision construction and alignment
- Inspection and verification activities
- Accurate execution of design intent
This ensures faithful realization of digital designs during actual shipbuilding operations, reducing errors and improving build quality.
Boosting Design Accuracy, Quality and Production Efficiency
The Next Generation VR Lab represents a future-ready convergence of immersive visualization, digital twin technology, and integrated construction tools. The facility is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including:
- Enhanced design accuracy
- Improved build quality
- Reduced construction cycle time
- Better-informed decision-making
- Higher operational efficiency across shipbuilding production
The initiative reinforces GRSE’s role as a key contributor to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and digital transformation in shipbuilding.
Strengthening India’s Indigenous Warship Building Ecosystem
With the launch of the NGVR Lab, GRSE has strengthened its position at the forefront of indigenous digital shipbuilding, supporting the nation’s broader vision of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The facility underscores India’s growing capability to design, build, and maintain advanced warships using cutting-edge digital technologies developed and implemented domestically.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
GRSE Ltd is a premier Indian shipbuilding company with a legacy of constructing high-quality vessels for defense and commercial markets. Over the years, the shipyard has expanded its portfolio to include warships, patrol vessels, and commercial ships, contributing to India’s self-reliance in shipbuilding while progressively entering the global maritime market.
