Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday asked the Navy and Coast Guard to complete the first phase of the Coastal Radar Network (CRN) by October to track the movement of suspicious vessels in Indian waters. After the 26/11 attacks,he has held several meetings with the sea-guarding agencies and other stakeholders to plug the gaps in countrys maritime security. Reviewing the status of coastal security,Antony directed that the first phase of the CRN,on both the west and east coasts,should be completed in the next two months and that he would himself visit some locations very soon,said a Defence Ministry official. The CRN is an important component of the coastal security mechanism which will ensure monitoring and identification of maritime traffic. Antony also reviewed the time schedules of supply of Fast Interceptor Crafts,implementation of National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network and Vessels and Air Traffic Management System on the east coast. Antony said another coastal security review meeting would be held after the forthcoming Parliament session slated to end on September 7.
