Chidambaram took stock of the progress being made in the manufacture of the boats, which are being made with the technological help of a Greek company.
In an effort to ensure foolproof security along the coastline, home minister P Chidambaram today reviewed the progress in manufacture of high-speed interceptor boats and stressed on their timely delivery.
At a meeting with CMDs of Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata, Chidambaram took stock of the progress being made in the manufacture of the boats, which are being made with the technological help of a Greek ship building company.
"While noting that delivery of boats has commenced from April 2009, and 13 interceptor boats have been dispatched to States and UTs including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Goa, Lakshadweep and others, Chidambaram underlined the need to ensure that there are no slippages in time-lines," a home ministry statement said.
The home ministry had given orders to the two public sector undertakings to manufacture 194 high speed boats. Of these 85 are five tons vessels while rest are 12 tons, sources said.
The state-of-the art patrolling boats can pick up a speed of more than 140 nautical miles per hour (260 km per hour) and carry up to 10 people on board. The boat, with dual jet engine, costs approximately Rs 2.3 crore and comes with sophisticated GPS, a radar, a powerful search light and binoculars.
However, the boat has no weapon fixed on board. The marine police will carry suitable weapons. The boat with its powerful equipment will make search and chase easier for the marine policemen. It can outperform any small vessel with its high speed and superb manoeuvrability.
Following the Mumbai terror attacks, security agencies are working on strengthening coastal security.
Chidambaram emphasised not only on the need for timely completion of all projects but also on the need for ensuring quality and an effective system of external audit and third party inspections.
He also held meetings with the director general, CPWD, CEO and CMDs of National Building Constructions Corporation, National Projects Construction Corporation, Border Road Organisation, RITES, EPIL and EIL to review issues relating to fencing, road construction, floodlighting, construction of border out-posts among others along international borders, particularly the borders with Bangladesh and China.
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