Karwar (Karnataka), Nov 4 (ANI): The Government will commission the Coast Guard station at Karnataka's Karwar district today for strengthening maritime and coastal security.

Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra will commission the station, which is being established based on the security assessment undertaken by the Government.

The station will function under the operational command of Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West), while Commandant (JG) Anil Sharma has been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the station.

The station will have two fast speedboats, to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls on as required basis.

Post 26/11, the responsibility of the Coastal Security from shoreline up to territorial waters has also been entrusted to the Coast Guard due to which 14 more stations will be established to address the security gap along the coastline.

In addition, the Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Commander Coastal Command, with the responsibility for overall coordination between various Central and State agencies, in all matters relating to the coastal security.

In response to the enhanced responsibilities, the Coast Guard is pursuing urgent enhancement of its surveillance capabilities so as to meet its tasks and responsibilities effectively.

The present force-levels and manpower are projected to double in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower. The setting up of 15 additional stations is part of this effort. (ANI)