Obama visit:Security measures beefed up at 12 major ports

Coastal security has been beefed up at 12 major ports in the country with installation of advanced surveillance systems and patrolling to avert any untoward incident, a top official has said.

The development assumes significance in the wake of US President Barack Obama's visit to India later this week to participate in Republic Day celebrations.

"A slew of measures have been initiated to beef up coastal security. All major ports have installed high end security surveillance systems to avert any untoward incident," a top official told PTI.

There are 12 major ports, under the control of the Centre besides 187 minor/intermediate ports under the jurisdiction of states along the 7,517 kms long coast line of the country.

The official said all 12 major ports are International Ship & Port Facility Code (ISPFC) compliant which envisages an assessment of security threat by recognised security bodies of the roles and responsibility of government security agencies like Navy, coastguard, police and CISF.

A large number of steps were initiated post 26/11 Mumbai terror attack for round-the-clock vigil of eastern and western coasts, which have been intensified, the official added.

The measures for port security include "installation of vehicles traffic movement system, CCTVs, patrolling of port areas by vehicles, creation of deterrence by creating proper perimeter wall, illuminating port area, cancelling access to ports and ships, conducting physical verification and ISPFS audit by DG Shipping", the official added.

As per information, Paradip port has got high-end security surveillance (HESS) system including 30 CCTV cameras installed at a cost of Rs 2.14 crore while Visakhapatnam port has 30 CCTVs installed at a cost of Rs 1.27 crore.

Chennai Port has 30 analog cameras and the new system has been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.87 crore to update internet protocol based CCTV. Kamarajar Port has cameras at 7 strategic locations while VO Chidambaranar Port Trust has 28 PTZ cameras.

The number of cameras at Cochin Port is 36 while New Mangalore Port Trust has got 21 CCTV cameras with wireless units besides LCD monitors at a cost of Rs 1.26 crore.

Mormugao Port has Digital video surveillance system and Mumbai Port has replaced existing analogue CCTV system with a Rs 5.65 crore wireless system which is highly encrypted and includes 90 cameras.

As per official records, JNPT has high end security surveillance system and in addition the port is in the process of further strengthening  the entire system and would be providing CCTV surveillance network at Port towards port adjacent areas at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore.

Kandla Port Trust has 17 cameras and CISF monitoring station while Kolkata Port Trust has initiated the action for installation of CCTV cameras as part of high end security surveillance system to cover the vulnerable areas.

India has 12 major ports - Kindle, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) which handle approximately 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.