Article Posted on : - May 09, 2015

A representational image.

NEW DELHI (BNS): The Indian Navy's new base - INS Sardar Patel - was commissioned at Porbandar, in Gujarat, by state Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, on Saturday.

The Porbandar naval base will be the second on Gujarat coast after INS Dwarka at Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka district.

"INS Sardar Patel will offer operational, logistic and administrative support for coordination requirements - ships, submarines and aircraft deployed in Gujarat region," an ANI report quoting the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R K Dhowan, said.

"Technology has been leveraged and in the entire coastline of our country, 46 coastal radar stations have been put, 74 automatic identification systems have been put and one National Command Control Communication and Information Network has been established," he added.

"On behalf of people of Gujarat and myself, I extend best wishes to the commanding officer of INS Sardar Patel and his team for all their endeavours" the chief minister tweeted.

Gujarat is a frontline maritime state of India with the longest coastline of 880 nautical miles, besides sharing 532 kms of land border with Pakistan.

Earlier Navy sources said the maritime infrastructure has grown over the decades and many ports have come up along the coastline, which handles 300 million tons of cargo annually, constituting approx 30% of the total cargo handled in the ports of India.

In view of the enhanced operational tempo along the coast of Gujarat due to the growing maritime security challenges, there is requirement of gradually enhancing infrastructure. The commissioning of INS Sardar Patel is one of the steps being taken by the Navy in this direction, a PTI report quoting the source said.