India Enhances Coastal Safety with ICG’s Expanded Operations

India has significantly enhanced its coastal safety measures through proactive steps taken by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The ICG employs 18-20 ships, 30-35 crafts, and 10-12 aircraft daily to ensure robust surveillance. This monitoring is supported by the Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) and oversight from distant operating stations (ROS) and remote operating centers (ROCS).

Over the past decade, the ICG has conducted over 3,00,296 boarding operations to prevent illegal activities and verify identities at sea. They have also carried out 153 coastal security exercises, 451 safety operations, 458 security exercises, and 3,645 joint coastal patrol operations. These efforts have resulted in the seizure of 179 boats and the arrest of 1,683 individuals involved in illegal activities such as poaching, drug smuggling, and unauthorized immigration.

Substantial investments have been made in acquiring ships and aircraft for coastal safety, amounting to RS 122.01 billion rupees, with an additional 15.83 billion rupees allocated for CSN infrastructure. Standard operating procedures have been established for all coastal regions, detailing stakeholder responsibilities, operational protocols, and coordinated response strategies. Community engagement programs and fishing guard groups have been initiated to raise awareness and report suspicious activities. Additionally, a toll-free helpline (1554) has been set up for public reporting of emergencies and incidents at sea, while personnel receive specialized training to enhance their skills for effective coast safety.

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