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SIRSI (PTI): The proposed second phase of the Seabird Naval project would be cleared by the Centre in four months, a top naval officer said here Thursday.

"The proposal which is before the centre will be cleared in four months," Commander Atulkumar Jain told reporters here.

Defence Minister A K Antony had stated in May during his visit to Karwar this year that Phase-II of this project would be completed by 2017-18 and has ultra modern facilities for berthing at least 30 warships.

The Centre also proposed to take up further expansion at Karwar to ensure that the naval base can handle 50 major warships, he said after inaugurating an integrated defence- civilian township at Amadelli in Karwar.

The first phase of Project Seabird was completed in 2005, which involved construction of a large new naval base (INS Kadamba), for exclusive use by the Indian Navy.

The main aim of building a new base on the western coast is overcrowding at the major harbours of Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam, as well as at the smaller ports of Kochi and Goa, which the Indian Navy has to share with commercial vessels.