Panaji: Vasco-based Goa
Shipyard Limited has bagged the over Rs 830 crore
contract to manufacture 150
patrol boats for the union ministry of home affairs (MHA). Goa Shipyard has also successfully bid for the contract to build 10, 28-mt patrol vessels for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The patrol vessels will answer the long pending demand of security agencies for these vessels to shore up maritime security.
"Goa Shipyard has emerged as L1 (lowest bidder) for the contract for 12-tonne patrol
boats, which the central government is procuring," Shekhar Mital, chairman and managing director of Goa Shipyard Limited, said while speaking to TOI.
The global tender for the procurement of 150 coastal security boats, was floated by the MHA in March 2011. Seven companies, including Ashok Leyland, Goa Shipyard limited and Abu Dhabi Ship building competed for the contract.
Sources said that just before the contract could be awarded, the union ministry scrapped the global tender in May 2016.
"The boats will be used by marine police of the coastal states. In addition, we have been picked as the lowest bidder for the Andaman and Nicobar Island," Mital said.
The contract for the 160 boats will create business for local vendors who supply components to Goa Shipyard.
Security agencies had sought for the vessels in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the boats were supposed to be commissioned by 2016, before the tender was scrapped.
India has a coastline of 7,516.6 km which is largely porous and susceptible to terror attacks. Along with frequent patrolling, a network of radar installations for surveillance have also been added to bolster maritime security.
"Goa Shipyard has got an excellent rating for 2016-17 among defence public sector units by the union defence ministry. We have delivered vessels ahead of contractual schedule and that has helped us bag contracts," Mital said.
Goa Shipyard will deliver the last Coast Guard Offshore Vessel on December 21, completing a Rs 2,000 crore contract inked by the union defence ministry.
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MANNING THE COASTS
Phase I of Coastal Security scheme
- Coastal States and Union Territories were provided with 73 coastal police stations and 97 check posts
- 204 patrol vessels and 153 jeeps were also provided to coastal states, especially on the western coast
Coastal Security Scheme (Phase-II) (under implementation)
- To completed over a five-year period
- 31 marine police stations, 60 jetties, 10 marine operations centres to be built across coastline
- 190 vessels and 35 rigid inflatable boats to be procured for nine states - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and West Bengal - and four union territories
