Post-Mumbai: 3,000 new posts for Coast Guard

Defence Minister A.K. Anthony Wednesday announced 3,000 additional posts for the Coast Guard to beef up maritime surveillance and security.

Defence Minister A.K. Anthony Wednesday announced 3,000 additional posts for the Coast Guard to beef up maritime surveillance and security.

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Antony said that the concept of security was changing in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack. The government would fill up vacancies on a priority basis.

"The modern day dynamics of security and geopolitics mean that the Coast Guard cannot rest on past laurels and can ill-afford to be complacent. The responsibilities on the Coast Guard have been increasing. The terror attacks on Mumbai have resulted in a bigger role for the Coast Guard," the minister told reporters here.

The Coast Guard is in the process of acquiring 20 fast patrol vehicles (FPVs), 41 interceptor boats, 12 coastal surveillance aircraft (Dorniers) and seven off-shore patrol vehicles (OPVs).

"Work is in progress to put in place a chain of 46 coastal radars spanning nine coastal stations across the country. Also, nine new Coast Guard stations have been approved. These need to be established early," Antony said.

He said that presently 50 ships were being constructed at various Indian shipyards, to be acquired by the various military agencies.

In the aftermath of the Mumbai attack of November 2008, the Indian Navy was made the nodal agency for the coastal security of the country's 7,516 km long shore line.