The Dakshina Kannada district administration has earmarked land to build a hover port to base hovercraft of the Indian Coast Guard at New Mangalore.
A press statement by the Indian Coast Guard said here on Wednesday that the Deputy Commissioner of the district has been proactive in facilitating various formalities to hand over the land to the Coast Guard.
It is now awaiting the approval from the Ministry of Defence. Once the approval is accorded, the President’s sanction will be obtained and the land will be taken over, the statement said.
The hovercraft from the London-based Griffon Hover Works – Air Cushion H-196 – will be equipped with arms and ammunition. It will have a long-range radar, night vision cameras and communication equipment.
On the Coast Guard’s proposed air base in Mangalore, the statement said that to begin with, the old airport terminal of Mangalore will be taken over from the Airports Authority of India. The process is in the final stages and is pending with the Ministry of Defence, it said.
A permanent air base will be constructed after the district administration hands over 15.21 acres of land for the construction of hangars. The Coast Guard is awaiting the taking over of land from the district administration.
At present, the surveillance of the Karnataka coast is being carried out by requisitioning aircraft from other Coast Guard air bases, the statement added.