State to buy 20 patrol boats for ₹118 crore

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra home department has approved a proposal worth ₹118 crore to procure 20 new patrolling boats to ensure coastal security. The state government has also allocated ₹26 crore for the repair of 22 non-functional patrolling boats.

Out of the 58 patrolling boats in the Maharashtra police fleet, 28 were acquired with central government funding, and 27 were procured by the state government. However, 22 of the boats obtained post the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai have been inactive for several years. In response, the state government has authorised the appointment of a firm for their restoration. According to officials from the home department, the office of the director general of police has been instructed to initiate the bidding process for the procurement of the 20 new boats.

An official said, “The DGP office had proposed the procurement of 30 new patrolling boats and leasing six ISV boats. However, the recent approval from the state government is for the purchase of 20 new boats, with a total allocation of ₹117.6 crore. The bidding process will be undertaken by the DGP office, with expectations for completion within the next year.”

The home department is funding the modernization of one patrolling boat, with decisions pending for the other two based on performance. Additionally, funds are allocated for installing an automatic identification system on boats for better sea and coastal area patrolling. The Indian Navy identified 91 sensitive landing points manned by 279 security personnel. A committee will recommend deploying more personnel and installing additional CCTV cameras. Authorities have also identified 62 islands, including 50 inhabited ones, as sensitive from a security standpoint. A proposal for 11 drones for surveillance has been submitted by the home department.