Four radar stations and a remote operating station, as part of the chain of static sensors project being implemented across the country, was commissioned on Saturday, making the state’s coastline safer. Movement of even small vessels can now be detected and monitored.
“Four remote stations at Mount Dilli (Kannur), Ponnai (Malapuram), Vypin (Ernakulam) and Azikal (Kollam) now aid a real-time surveillance cover of up to 30 nautical miles.
The remote operating station in Kochi will enhance the electronic surveillance of coastal waters along the 590-km long stretch of coastal districts in the state,” Vice Admiral M.P. Muralidharan, AVSM, NM, director general of Indian Coastal Guard, said.
The chain of static sensors project, put on the fast track post 26/11, envisages fitment of high-end surveillance gadgets, electro-optic sensors, communication equipment and met equipment on light houses at 46 locations across the mainland and island territories.
The data generated by the static sensors will be available over a robust hierarchical network architecture connecting Coast Guard district headquarters, regional headquarters and the Coast Guard headquarters in New Delhi.
“Now we can know the position of even a small vessel, identify it and even communicate with it with the help of electro-optic sensors.
In the second phase, two more radar stations will be set up in Alappuzha and Azhikode,” the Coast Guard officer said, adding that the first phase is expected to be completed by March, 2013.
On the air-enclave that is coming up in Thiruvananthapuram, he said the Coast Guard is currently in the process of hiring a building and adding more assets. “It will house a Dornier aircraft and multi-engine helicopter, among others” he said.