The Home Ministry launched a coastal security scheme over two years ago to strengthen infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas on the basis of threat perception from sea routes.

The susceptibility of the coastal belt has been hotly debated at almost all meetings of country's top police brass from time to time but the Mumbai incident has jolted the security establishment.

The Home Ministry has sanctioned 73 police stations of which 55 have been made operational.

Sanction has also been given for 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 barracks.

Sources said coastal police stations are being equipped with 204 boats, 153 jeeps and 312 motorcycles and boats were being procured for carrying out patrolling and operations.

The scheme envisages setting up of 10 police stations in Gujarat, six in Andhra Pradesh, four in West Bengal, three in Goa, one each in Kerala, Puducherry and Daman and Diu, 12 in Maharashtra and five in Karnataka.

The scheme is being implemented jointly by the Union Home Ministry, which will meet the non-recurring expenditure of Rs 400 crore, and the Defence Ministry, which will meet the recurring expenditure of Rs.151 crore.

Under the scheme, assistance is given to Coast Guard to procure 15 interceptor boats suitable for patrolling the coastal waters and for setting up three Coast Guard Stations -- two in Maharashtra and one in Gujarat.

The Coast Guard is imparting training to different State police personnel in mounting maritime vigil.

Sources said it has been decided to create additional infrastructure for Coast Guard to enable it undertake joint coastal patrolling.

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