After 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, Maharashtra government with the help from the central government had assured to arrange a rigid plan for marine security. However, multiple media reports have questioned the credibility of the same.
Earlier in 2009, the state government had imported New Zealand’s 15 C-Lake boats but the results were not satisfactory. It has been difficult to patrol the sea with these boats. After nine years of using the imported boats, Maharashtra Police demanded new high-speed boats for more efficient patrolling.
The length of Mumbai coasts is eight-kilometre where it is 720 km across Maharashtra. However, the coastal security forces have been deployed in 21 locations including Mumbai (5), Thane Rural (5), Raigad District (5), Sindhudurg (6), Ratnagiri (5). Moreover, 36 coastal posts have been constructed and they are provided with 22 boats and seven speed boats.
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The imported boats from New Zealand are not as efficient as they can remain in the water constantly for only 35 to 40 hours. With a speed of merely five nautical miles, the boat could only carry 16 people. In the view of these problems, the state government has agreed to provide new boats.
The new boats which will be provided to the police have been engineered by ‘Royal Institute of Naval Architects’ and they will be called ‘Immediate Support Vehicle’. The boats can run on the speed of 25 km per hour and can reach up to 200 nautical miles. This boat can also remain in water for almost a week and can ferry up to 34 people.
Mumbai Police Senior official told Mumbai Live that these boats are currently with the Indian Navy and ONGC. The boats will soon be provided to the coastal security forces to ensure better safety.
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