For at least half a decade now, the coast guard has been requesting the state government to transfer a tract of land at Marve in Malad west.
In a move that will ensure better security for the state and particularly the city's vulnerable coastline, Mumbai will get a coast guard station at Bandstand in Bandra.
The proposed site is located close to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, that is, next to Bandra Fort or Taj Lands End. Mumbai Suburban District Collector Shekhar Channe told dna that the proposal was being considered by the state government. The site abuts the Bandra side of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
"The 50,000 square metre land will be divided between them (coast guard) and the police," said Channe, adding that the price of the land would be based on the ready reckoner rate.
"This station is necessary to berth smaller vessels, particularly interceptor crafts and hovercrafts that can respond faster for patrolling purposes," said a coast guard officer.
The second half of the land parcel will be occupied by coastal police, who will keep some of their assets there.
For at least half a decade now, the coast guard has been requesting the state government to transfer a tract of land at Marve in Malad west. However, the state authorities have not been forthcoming, and the coast guard is yet to get the plot. The Union government has sanctioned the hand-over of the plot at Marve about a fortnight ago, and further formalities are now awaited, said the officer.
The plan is to have a training centre at Malad- but the state government isn't keen to hand over the Marve plot to coast guard, sources said. Even the coastal police staff is likely to need training for marine policing, including basic skills such as swimming. Most of the existing technical staff cannot swim.
The need for better coastal security was laid bare after the 26/11 terror attacks. The ease with which Pakistani terrorists landed at Cuffe Parade pointed to the vulnerability of the state's 720-km porous coastline. Despite these incidents, a recent comptroller and Auditor general (CAG) report made clear that the state seems to be dragging its feet on beefing up coastal security.
The CAG, in its report on the general and social sector for the year ended March 2014- the report was tabled in the state legislature during the budget session- pointed to major loopholes in the coastal security setup, such as inadequate infrastructure, and the coastal police staff's lack of training in swimming.
The three-tier coastal security arrangement has led to the state being tasked with protection of up to 12 nautical miles, with the area beyond that until the high seas being the responsibility of the coast guard and the high seas being covered by the Indian navy.
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