Vadinar: In a significant stride towards bolstering coastal infrastructure and fortifying national security, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Ajay Bhatt, inaugurated the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Jetty Vadinar on March 1, 2024. The event marked a pivotal moment in enhancing operational capabilities within the strategically vital Indian Coast Guard Region (North-West).
Constructed by the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) as a deposit work at a cost of Rs. 74 Crores, the Vadinar Jetty is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests in the Gulf of Kutch region. This area serves as a major hub for crude oil, with 74% of India’s crude oil passing through Vadinar and Kandla. The inauguration ceremony witnessed Raksha Rajya Mantri acknowledging the pivotal role played by the Indian Coast Guard in securing national maritime interests in its designated areas.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Ajay Bhatt emphasized the heightened threat of infiltration by anti-national elements into Indian territory, posing a substantial risk to national security and the economy. He underlined the potential implications for energy security in the Gulf of Kutch, necessitating continuous surveillance. The Vadinar Jetty, with its strategic location, bolsters the operational capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard, allowing for 24×7 surveillance and response to emergencies.
Highlighting the geo-strategic significance of the Vadinar Jetty, Shri Bhatt mentioned its role in providing berthing facilities to Indian Coast Guard ships during operational visits to other Coast Guard stations in the Exclusive Economic Zone and International Maritime Boundary Line. This infrastructure improvement enables the Indian Coast Guard to operate in all weather conditions and deploy ships promptly during emergencies, enhancing coastal security operations along the International Maritime Boundary Line.
Furthermore, the newly inaugurated jetty is designed to offer berthing facilities not only to Indian Coast Guard ships but also to Indian Navy vessels. This multi-functional capacity amplifies the overall maritime readiness and response capability in the region.
The Indian Coast Guard Headquarters, based in New Delhi, operates through five Regional Headquarters situated in Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Port Blair. The Regional Headquarters (North West), established in Gandhinagar on December 16, 2009, oversees maritime security operations in the maritime zones of Gujarat, Daman & Diu. With Gujarat boasting a coastline of 1215 km, one-sixth of the nation’s total coastline, and sharing an International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) with Pakistan, the Vadinar Jetty serves as a critical asset in fortifying the coastal defense posture of the nation.
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