New Delhi, July 24
Almost four years after 10 Lashkar men sailed into Mumbai to expose India’s lack of preparedness, the first set of shore-based radars is ready and functioning. These powerful long-range radars can spot even small boats and instantly beam information to ground-based controllers in Maharashtra and Gujarat in the form of live pictures.

The first two of the 46 radars that are to be installed all along the coast under a Rs 602-crore project are ready and being tested along the West Coast. A formal inauguration by Defence Minister AK Antony is likely in a few days, sources say.

The remaining 44 radars will come up soon and will be integrated with each other, thus covering the entire 7,500-km Indian coastline. The island territories of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshwadeep will also get such radars as these lie very close to the international sea lanes of communication (SLOCS). More than 80 per cent of Indian trade takes place through the sea route.

As soon as any rogue ships is seen approaching the Indian coast, ground-based controllers will pass on the information to the authorities concerned that will arrange for sending a chopper, a plane, a UAV or a warship to probe further.

Installing coastal radars is a top priority, especially after a high-level review carried out by Antony last year when he was shocked to find that nothing had moved in the radar installation process initiated by the government following the Mumbai attacks.

The radars will beam information to joint-operation centres at Mumbai, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Port Blair. The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard man these centres. Following the Mumbai attacks, the Navy was made overall in charge of the coastal security.

A decision to have a chain of radars all along the coast was cleared in February 2001 by a group of ministers. The requirements kept changing for the next few years, without the radars ever getting installed. The project was revived after the Mumbai attacks.

The DG, Lighthouses, under the Ministry of Shipping, has been tasked to fit these radars atop existing lighthouses. 

46 radars will be installed all along the 7,500-km Indian coastline at a cost of Rs 602 crore

The first two such radars have been installed and made functional

A formal inauguration by Defence Minister AK Antony is likely in a few days

The powerful long-range radars can spot even small boats and instantly beam information to ground-based controllers in Maharashtra and Gujarat