As per the contract signed in January 2004, the original package was drawn up based on visual examination in as-is condition wherein it was found that the majority of the equipment, systems could be repaired while the electronic equipment could be renewed," Vice-Admiral S P S Cheema with the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), wrote in his RTI response.
he Admiral went on to say "on opening up the equipment for a detailed examination and survey of the state of the hull structures, systems, cabling, etc, it emerged that these could not be repaired and hence would have to be replaced with new ones".
"These additionalities have resulted in the increase in project costs."
The amound of work needed to be done and the cost increase was not only the fault of the Russians but also ours as we did the deal without a visual inspection, it later become apparent the entire cabling had to be replaced with new ones which is a massive job.
''Most equipment had to be replaced and the ship was completely rewired with 2,400 kilometres of new cables,”