Defence Minister AK Antony will inaugurate the Static Sensors Project of Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) of the Coast Guard at Mumbai and Porbandar tomorrow. The project on the mainland and the island territories is to be completed by September this year in the first phase and March next year in the second phase at a cost of 600 crore rupees. Our Correspondent reports, the project is the first of its kind, both in terms of expanse and strategic implications.

This project will provide the much needed electronic eye to the maritime agencies and provide the envisaged impetus to the overall coastal security apparatus.

In the Phase-I of the project, 46 Remote Radar sites, 36 locations in mainland, 6 locations in Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and 4 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands would be established at various lighthouses located along the coast line. These sites have been strategically located to provide electronic surveillance of areas of high sensitivity and high traffic density along the coastline. The system is designed to promote surveillance cover upto the 25 nautical miles from the coast line around each Radar sites.

The data generated by the Static Sensors will flow over a network, connecting Coast Guard District Headquarters and Regional Headquarters to Coast Guard Headquarters at Delhi. The project would also aid in enhancing the efficacy of Search and Rescue operations coordinated by the Coast Guard. The sensor data generated by the Coastal Surveillance Network would also be shared with other maritime agencies to generate a comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness.

In Phase-II of the project, 38 additional Remote Radar sites will be set up integrating 21 sites of the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat. During the Phase, the Static Radar Chain is also proposed to be supplemented by eight Mobile Surveillance Systems.