Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, in a significant move, embarked on a two-day visit to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) facilities in the North West Region on March 28-29. His visit was aimed at taking stock of the facilities and infrastructure of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), underlining the government’s commitment to ensuring that the ICG is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to carry out its duties effectively. During his visit, he inaugurated the Hovercraft Maintenance Unit (HMU) infrastructure at Okha and the Coast Guard OTM and Married Accommodation at Inaz Village Veraval.
The Defence Secretary lauded the role played by the ICG in safeguarding national maritime interests in its area of responsibility and was also briefed about the upcoming 200-meter ICG Jetty Construction work at Okha. This visit not only highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring that the Indian Coast Guard is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure but also recognises and values the ICG’s significant contributions, according to a statement from the Defence Ministry.
The Gulf of Kutch, located along the coast of Gujarat, has 50 islands that require constant surveillance. To maintain this surveillance, hovercrafts are stationed at Okha and Jakhau. However, the shallow waters and marshy terrain make the upkeep and maintain these hovercrafts challenging. To tackle this problem, a field facility for HMU has been established. The statement said that this facility will provide timely technical support, upkeep, and maintenance for the hovercrafts, ensuring they are always ready to meet operational requirements.
According to the Ministry, the Coast Guard Residential Area (CGRA) at Inaz Village Veraval includes 60 Married Accommodations, an all-weather Helipad, living Accommodations for Subordinate Officers and Navigators, a Parade Ground, and a Mess. The presence of a helipad adds a strategic advantage to various operations in Veraval, including addressing maritime emergencies, search-and-rescue missions, and surveillance activities.
ICG Regional Headquarters (North West) was established on 16 December 2009 at Gandhinagar. As per the statement, its primary responsibility is to carry out the ICG’s mandated charter in the maritime zones of Gujarat, Daman, and Diu. The ICG is dedicated to the development of infrastructure, including berthing facilities, to support the operation of advanced surface and air platforms. To achieve this goal, the ICG is currently constructing a 100-meter jetty extension at Porbandar, a 125-meter jetty at Mundra, and a 200-meter jetty at Okha, in addition to the recently inaugurated Jetty at Vadinar.
The inauguration of these facilities will go a long way in further strengthening the ICG’s capabilities and enhancing its operational preparedness. The nation is proud to have such a robust and efficient maritime force that plays a crucial role in safeguarding our maritime interests. The visit by the Defence Secretary reiterates the government’s commitment to the security and well-being of the nation.
Ravi Shankar
