INS Jatayu, which was commissioned on Minicoy Island on Wednesday, is the second naval base on the island chain and shall be co-located with a joint airfield that’s to come back up sooner or later. The closest land to Minicoy is Thuraakunu Island in Maldives, which is situated at a distance of about 100 km to the south, throughout the Vangaaru Channel.
The brand new base was inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar who mentioned extra belongings will now be based mostly on the island. Officers added that it’s going to considerably increase India’s surveillance capabilities within the area.”This milestone strengthens Indian Navy’s foothold in Lakshadweep whereas extending capability constructing, operational attain and sustenance within the area. It can additionally increase connectivity with the mainland, focusing in the direction of complete improvement of the islands,” officers mentioned. The navy has yet another base on the island – INS Dweeprakshak at Kavaratti.
Apart from the brand new naval base and a joint airfield that’s within the works, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has main plans to improve its infrastructure in Lakshadweep within the coming months, together with organising of latest jetties, radar stations and an air enclave.
Sources mentioned that the ICG is already in dialogue to arrange an air enclave at a twin objective airport that’s being deliberate for Minicoy. Survey of land for the enclave is already beneath progress and the coast guard is searching for area for everlasting deployment of its surveillance belongings.At current, the ICG has three stations situated at Kavaratti, Minicoy and Androth. It usually undertakes surveillance of the Unique Financial Zone and has 4 interceptor boats for patrolling, moreover air and ship operations from the mainland.The Coastal Safety Community within the islands, sources mentioned, is being expanded by the coast guard, which already has stations on six islands, together with Minicoy. Geared up with day/night time cameras, VHF and Infra- crimson Cameras, the stations feed real-time information to a management station. Sources mentioned that three further radar stations are being deliberate on the islands.
