The delivery of the six Scorpene submarines, which are being constructed at the Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, has been revised and the first vessel will be ready by June 2015, the government told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In a written reply on delivery of the submarines being constructed under Project-75, Defence Minister Mr A K Antony said, “The delivery schedule of the first submarine has been revised to June 2015 and that of the last submarine to September 2018.”

The original delivery schedule of the first submarine was December 2012 and remaining were to be delivered with a gap of one year each.

“Consequent to the approval of the government for revision of cost and delivery schedule, the delivery schedule of the first submarine has been revised,” he said.

The government approval for construction of the six submarines at MDL under Project-75 was accorded in September 2005 at a total cost of Rs 18,798 crore and the contract was signed in October 2005, Mr Antony said.

The “government approval for revision in cost of the project to Rs 23,562 crore was accorded in February 2010 along with revision in delivery schedule,” he said.

Delay in construction is attributable to initial teething problems in absorption of new technology, delay in augmentation of industrial infrastructure at MDL and delay in procurement of items due to high cost as compared to the earlier indicated cost, Mr Antony said.

“Most of the teething problems have been resolved and various plans have been put in place to minimise delays,” he told the House.

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