The long-pending demand for an air enclave for the Coast Guard Headquarters for Andhra Pradesh in Visakhapatnam is likely to become a reality by the end of 2018.
“We have put everything in place and now it is awaiting the nod,” said Coast Guard Commander for Andhra Pradesh, Anil Kumar Harbola, here on Tuesday. Interacting with the media on the occasion of the 40th Coast Guard Day, he said if things fell in place at the right time then the State government could allot the required land by June 2017.
According to him, around 10 acres had already been identified near the Visakhapatnam airport, which was required for setting up the air enclave.
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“We are expecting the government to allot the land by this June. It would take minimum one to one-and-half-years for completing the enclave once the construction starts,” Mr. Harbola said.
At present, the deployment of Coast Guard aircraft was being done from the Regional Headquarters in Chennai or from Bhubaneswar. Once the air enclave gets operational, surveillance aircraft such as Dorniers could be deployed at the enclave, he added.
He said the issues pertaining to the land had been sorted out and the clearances obtained.
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Five more ships
On the strengthening of the fleet in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Harbola said in the next four to five years five ships, including two off-shore patrol vessels and three fast patrol vessels, would be added to the A.P. coast to the existing fleet of 13 ships and one aircraft.
This apart, two interceptor boats were also likely to be added.
At present, around 100 officers and about 800 sailors were operating in the A.P. region, which includes Nizampatnam, Krishnapatnam and Kakinada apart from the headquarters in Visakhapatnam, he added.
Two interceptor boats are also on the cards.
Raising Day
celebration
Admitting that there was a space constraint, Mr. Harbola said to the existing 400-metre jetty, construction of an additional 150-metre jetty was in the pipeline, for which negotiations were going on with officials of the VPT and the government.
As part of the 40th Coast Guard Day, a series of events such as painting competition for school children and boat race for fishermen were held during the week.
According to Mr. Harbola, CG was initiated in 1977 with seven boats and now there were as many as 162 ships which include Advanced Off-shore Patrol Vessel, Off-shore Patrol Vessel, Pollution Control Vessel. The air arm consisted of 62 aircraft, including Dorniers, Dhruv and a few other maritime surveillance aircraft, said the commander of Coast Guard.
The CG had been actively performing Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, coastal and offshore security, anti-poaching, anti-smuggling operations and protection of the marine environment, he said.