The INS Eksila, a premier technical establishment of the Navy, performing overhauls of marine gas turbines of the front-line warships, was commissioned at Visakhapatnam. Justice Ms M Fathima Beevi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu commissioned the INS Eksila. At an impressive ceremony, the Governor of Tamil Nadu christened the establishment as INS Eksila and complimented the Eastern Naval Command for its unique facility for undertaking overhauls and repairs of gas turbine engines and gas turbnine generators of naval ships.

A ceremonial parade was held on the occasion of the commissioning of the establish-ment in which a 50-men guard of honour was presented to the Governor. The chief guest unveiled the plaque of INS Eksila. The Commanding Officer, INS Eksila, Cmde KC Sekhar read out the commissioning warrant. Hoisting of Colours for the first time and breaking of the commissioning pennant at the last bar of the national anthem marked the formal commissioning ceremony in an atmosphere of service decorum. Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command and Vice Admiral ASR Krishnan, Chief of Material from the Naval Headquarters were present at the function.

The establishment is housed with modern equipment, machinery and state-of-the-art facilities for undertaking a complete overhauling of marine gas turbine engines and gas turbine generators of the new generation naval ships including the Rajput class destroyers. The establishment is the only institution of its kind in South-East Asia.

The name ‘Eksila’ is derived from Eksila Nagaramu, the original name of the present township Warrangal in Andhra Pradesh. The name symbolizes a single rock called ‘Eksila’. It was used by King Ganapati Deva to construct the Warrangal Fort.

The establishment is a full fledged and self-supporting unit similar to the other shore establishments in the Navy. Nested in the heavy industrial belt of Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam, the Marine Gas Turbine Overhaul Centre (MGTOC) is a unique repair organisation of the Indian Navy which has earned international recognition as a centre of excellence in the field of gas turbine overhauls and repairs.