BHUBANESWAR: In a major boost to Coast Guard operations in Odisha, the maritime security agency has commissioned a full-fledged Coast Guard Air Enclave with Air Squadron at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.
The Air Enclave and the 743 Dornier Squadron was inaugurated by Director General of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal on Monday. With two Dornier aircraft at its disposal, the facility will strengthen surveillance, maritime and coastal security operations by the ICG effectively. It will provide the required fillip to protection of sensitive maritime environment and vital assets along the State coast while upscaling search and rescue operations on the sea. The availability of Coast Guard’s maritime assets will also enhance disaster response capacities in Odisha which is prone to natural disasters.
“With the setting up of Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE), strategic air operations will be streamlined and synergised for the protection of coastal areas off Odisha. Earlier, we used to fly from Kolkata. By basing the aircraft and crew here, the response time will be significantly reduced,” Vice Admiral Thapliyal said.
The DGICG highlighted the measures taken by the Union Government for enhancing coastal security in the country. The ICG would see induction of 16 light (single engine) aircraft, 14 heavy (double engines) aircraft and six multi-tasking aircraft by 2018.
The maritime surveillance efforts off Odisha coast will also be enhanced with stationing of an additional inshore patrol vessel ‘Amogh’ at Paradip from January 2015.
“In the last two years, we have commissioned three Coast Guard stations at Kolkata, Gopalpur and Frazerganj, which have subsequently been transformed as ‘Forward Operating Base’ for hovercraft. The fleet in the region has also been augmented by rebasing of one off-shore patrol vessel and commissioning of two inshore boats at Paradip along with one fast patrol vessel and two hovercrafts at Haldia,” Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East) VSR Murthy said.
The Air Enclave and the Squadron will work under operational and administrative control of Commander Coast Guard Region (NE) through Commander Coast Guard District 7 (Odisha). The CGAE has actually been activated since April, 2013 for overcoming teething problems before formal full-fledged commissioning.
The State Government has allocated seven acre of land for establishment of the Enclave at Bhubaneswar. Construction of hangar and office space over two acre at Bhimpur is on and is expected to be completed by March, 2016. The Airport Authority of India has leased 17,130 sq mtrs for construction of dispersal and taxi track, which are likely to be completed by March, 2015, Commander Murthy said.