Thane: Indian Coast Guard will be setting up a permanent base at Nerul in Navi Mumbai in a bid to strengthen maritime security and will use existing hoverport facility at Belapur to connect the upcoming international airport with South Mumbai.
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has allotted a plot near TS Chanakya in Nerul to the Indian Coast Guard (West) following a request forwarded by the maritime agency and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a release issued by CIDCO office said.
TS Chanakya is a shore-based training ship located on west coast near Mumbai. The Coast Guard is in the process of developing the said plot to set up a permanent base in Nerul after obtaining approvals from the competent authority, it said.
Since the establishment of permanent base will take time, the Coast Guard will be using existing hoverport service at Belapur and will press into service hovercraft for strengthening maritime security and connecting the upcoming international airport in Navi Mumbai to South Mumbai.
CIDCO in its board meeting held recently allowed the coastal security agency to use the hoverport facilities on the lease basis for a period of three years. PTI