26/11 terror attack brought sea change in coastal security approach: AK Antony

The 26/11 terror attack in 2008 has brought about a sea change in the government's approach to coastal security resulting in "all out" efforts to strengthen the apparatus, defence minister AK Antony today said.

At the Parliamentary Consultative Committee (PAC) meeting of  his ministry, Antony said the government was also focusing on modernising the defence shipyards so that the navy and coast guard can get modern, state-of-the-art warships to meet their requirements.

"The government is making all out efforts in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack to ensure security of the coastal regions of the country. There has been a sea change in the government's approach to coastal security after this tragic incident," he told MPs from all parties who are part of this  Parliamentary panel.

"The government is giving top priority to modernisation of shipyards so that state-of-the?"art warships can be built indigenously to global standards in the most transparent manner," he said.

Listing out the policy initiatives on shipyards and ship- building for the armed forces, Antony said in the future, all vessels of the navy would be built indigenously and the private sector would play a crucial role in this endeavour.

"To be comparable with the best global shipyards, we must keep a high premium on the quality of the delivered products. Our market share in global ship building must be improved substantially on a priority basis.

"Our shipyards have no option, but to build state of the art infrastructure for constructing high technology warships and submarines," he said.

Detailing the modernisation plans being carried out in Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), he said the focus areas were human resources development, important components for upgrading and diversification of ship-building infrastructure and implementing modern management tools and techniques.

Noting that Visakhapatnam-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) had been transferred to the defence ministry from the shipping ministry, the defence minister said a modernisation programme for HSL too would be finalised soon.

He said the first phase of the modernisation plan for defence shipyards would be completed by the first half of next year.

Antony said in recent years, the defence ministry was able to ensure improved results in the delivery of warships and submarines.

"During 2009-2010, these numbers stood at 120 vessels for the Indian Navy, coast guard and coastal states. In the current financial year, 85 vessels have already been delivered and by March 2011, a total of 127 vessels will be delivered," he said.