BEL to make Indian Coastal Surveillance More Powerful


A world-class enterprise to provide professional electronics, BEL (Bharath Electroncs Ltd) would incorporate advanced methodologies to provide powerful equipment to strengthen the coastal surveillance system for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to scale the country's maritime security.

IANS reported an official saying, “The coastal surveillance system will be enhanced with 38 more radar stations and 5 command and control centres along the coastline for the ICG to step-up maritime security." 

With the country having around 7,520-km long coastline off the Bay of Bengal in the east, Arabian Sea in the west and Indian Ocean in the south, the security providers had set up in 2015 on turnkey basis under phase-one 46 radar stations and 16 command and control centres. This happened post the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008. With the coast line to track movement of ships and fishing boats plying in the Indian waters it has been taking careful measures.

"Under phase-two, for which we have signed a contract with the defence ministry at the Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow last week, the surveillance system or chain of static sensors will also cover Lakshadweep in the west and Andaman and Nicobar islands in the east," said the official.

He further added, "The coastal surveillance software will be customised to meet the operational requirements of the ICG and the maritime security personnel,"

The coastal surveillance system (CSS) comprises a network of remote radar stations with sensors, electro optics, meteorological and VHF (very high frequency) radio communication units integrated with the command and control centres.