Coastal security plan: radars atop 90 lighthouses

On the eve of second anniversary 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India today took a giant step in securing its coasts through gap-free radar coverage atop 90 lighthouses by placing an order worth Rs 76 crore with Swedish firm SAAB.

The project to have a coastal surveillance radar atop the lighthouses along the 7,516-km long coastline will be executed under the national coastal security plan formulated by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, officials said here.

SAAB, on its part, said it has bagged the Swedish currency Kronor 116-million order from DGLL, an Indian Maritime Authority, for supply of a system for coastal surveillance for the entire Indian coast.

The system that DGLL ordered comprises of sensors to be installed along the coast and equipment for regional and national control centres. Users of the system, apart from DGLL, will be the Navy, Coast Guard and DG Shipping.

"SAAB will implement the project which includes installation, commissioning, training and support together with their Indian partner, Elcome Marine Services. The project will start immediately and will be completed within 18 months," the company said.

The firm has already installed sea traffic monitoring systems in European countries for their inland waterways and in China.

The terrorists who had targetted Mumbai on November 26, 2008, had sneaked into the city by boats.