Five more marine police stations are coming up in Nagapattinam district to intensify security along its long coastline following sanction from the State government.
The new stations were being established at Tharangambadi, Velankanni, Poompuhar, Pazhaiyar and Thirumullaivasal by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation.
With this, the number of marine police stations will rise to eight. The district has three marine police stations at Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam and Keezhaiyur.
The police station building at Tharangambadi had been completed and expected to be commissioned soon. Construction of station building was under way at Velankanni, Pazhaiyar and Thirumullaivasal and likely to be completed by March. The site for the police station at Poompuhar had been identified and construction was expected to begin soon.
The additional stations were being set up in the second phase of the coastal security scheme to scale up surveillance in the coastal areas, sources said.
The existing marine police stations were being manned by an officer in the rank of a Sub Inspector supported by Head Constables and constables.
The stations have been equipped with fast interceptor boats, night vision binoculars, VHF and walkie-talkie sets, life jackets and other paraphernalia. The new stations too would be equipped with necessary apparatus.
The sources said 65 Home Guards members were working along with Coastal Security Group assisting them in patrolling on board the fast interceptor boats in sea as well as on land. Personnel of the Tamil Nadu Special Police had been provided to assist the CSG personnel in the coastal check-posts in the district.
