Indian Coast Guard - Modernization
The Coast Guard, in 1978 began with two old frigates seconded by the Navy and five small patrol vessels from MHA. Over the next two decades, it attained a force level of 80 ships and craft and 45 aircraft and helicopters. In 1978, the CG Advisory Board prepared the Coast Guard Development Plan (CGDP) 1978-1990, the Kamath Plan, for the balanced development and growth of the service. In 1987, in view of the changed situation, a revised 15-year perspective plan (1985-2000) was prepared.
| 1987 Approved | 1999 On Hand | |
| Deep Sea Patrol Vessels | 06 | |
| Medium Patrol Vessel | 06 | |
| AOPV/OPVs | 24 | |
| AOPV Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel | 06 | |
| OPV Offshore Patrol Vessels | 09 | |
| Rescue Cum Pollution Control Vessels | 06 | 02 |
| FPVs/IPV/SDBs | 36 | |
| Inshore Patrol Vessel | 10 | |
| Fast Patrol Vessels | 15 | |
| Interceptor Boats | 36 | 23 |
| Interceptor Craft IC | 08 | 23 |
| Hovercraft ACVs | 06 | 09 |
| Coastal Surveillance Aircraft (Dornier) | 36 | 24 |
| Medium Range Surveillance Aircraft | 09 | |
| Rescue Helicopters (ALH) | 12 | 04 |
| Light Helicopters (Chetaks) | 36 | 17 |
The CGDP 1985-1990 could not be formally approved due to resource crunch. The acquisition proposals were approved on a piece meal basis upto Rs 518.88 crores. The CGDP 1990-1995 was recast to 1992-1997 in line with the national plan owing to severe resource crunch leading to a two year planned holiday. The plan projection was made for Rs 2286.92 crores, but approved for Rs 1223 crores. This reduction has led to drastic cut in the projected force level. The CGDP 1997-2002 was initially projected for Rs 3277 Cr, but was approved for Rs.1850 Cr. CGDP 2002-07 was approved for a total outlay of Rs 4317.01 Cr. CGDP 2007-12(XI Plan) was concurred for an outlay of Rs 7000/- Cr. However, MoD directed CGHQ to revise the plan view implementation of VI CPC and CCS sanctions post 26/11. 'Development Plan', before 'Manpower', add "The revised CGDP 2007-12 was approved for ` 7930 Cr. The CGDP 2012-17 has been approved by the Govt for an outlay of `16464 Cr."
As of 2007 the Indian Coast Guard had a force level of 43 ships, 45 aircraft and helicopters, 18 boats/ craft and 23 noncommissioned boats/ craft in its fleet to carry out regular surveillance of the Maritime Zones of India and the areas of interest. One Advanced Offshore Patrol vessel Sankalp, constructed by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Goa is also being commissioned. The other new incumbents to be brought into the Coast Guard force include - one Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Prahari and one Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel Samrat, launched on March 21, 2007 and July 2, 2007 respectively.
In spite of the Ministry curtailing the projected requirement, the actual Capital expenditure as a percentage of capital outlay ranged between 82 percent in the gth Plan and 53 percent in the 10th Plan. This resulted in the non-achievement as well as shifting of Plans in terms of the physical acquisitions of ships and aircrafts. For instance, in the 10th Plan, acquisition of 2 Advance Light Helicopters and 4 Chetak helicopters was carried forward from the 9th Plan. Besides, against procurement process to be finalized for 61 ships and 1 aircraft, there was not even a single delivery made in the Five Year Plan period. In the 11th Plan, only 2 ships and 1 aircraft were actually delivered against procurement process to be finalised for 175 ships and 52 aircraft.
The reasons cited for these failures were procedural delays in finalization of procurement process at all levels i.e. Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ), Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance, delayed signing of contracts, abnormally slow progress on the part of shipyards to construct the ships, neutralization of requirement of spares through revenue budget, cancellation of projects, non-sanction of new schemes by the Ministry of Defence, expiry of validity of approvals of the procurement process, delayed supply of spares and inconclusive trials etc. which are typical of this country's defence acquisitions under the Defence Procurement Policies. The Ministry of Defence claimed that despite stringent timelines and regular project monitoring, slippages occurred due to the complex nature of the projects which was spread to 4-7 years from initiation especially for ship and aircraft acquisitions. When asked, the Ministry did not identify any official for delays and lapses. The Lok Sabha Committee were utterly disappointed at such cumbersome Defence Procurement Procedure, which will eventually lead to failure of any defence plan thereby compromising the Country's defence preparedness.
During evidence the Defence Secretary admitted that the present strength of 105 ships and 64 aircraft in ICG may not be adequate for infallible security. Still the Committee felt that under the current scenario, the ICG's plan of having a fleet of 150 ships and 100 aircrafts by the year 2018 seemed to be a distant dream. The Committee, therefore, recommended the Ministry of Defence to analyse threadbare the hindrances affecting defence procurements, put in place quicker replacement in case a company fails to deliver order well in time, infuse novel ideas in the system and overhaul the country's Defence Procurement Procedure further so that all the targeted acquisition are timely achieved and the Country's defence preparedness is maintained at its peak level.
As on 31 October, 2015, ICG had a force level of 118 ships and 62 aircraft. XII Plan caters for acquisition of 57 Surface Platforms and 36 aircraft. Among these, contract for acquisition of 26 Surface Platforms have been signed. Cases for acquisition of 24 Surface Platforms are at various stages of acquisition. The case for acquisition of balance 07 Surface Platforms is being initiated. With 72 ships/boats under construction at various. shipyards and acquisition process of 36 aircraft at advanced stage, the fleet strength of ICG is certain to exceed 150 ships and 100 aircraft by year 2018 and 2020 respectively. Although the XII Plan provided for acquisition of 57 Surface Platforms and 36 Aircraft, contracts for acquisition of only 26 Surface Platforms have been signed and out of the rest, 24 Platforms were at various stages of acquisition and the remaining 07 Platforms were being initiated.
The ICG did not have its own repair yard like the Navy, and had not been able to ensure adherence to its prescribed norms for carrying out different types of refits of Coast Guard ships by 18 public sector and private sector shipyards where the refits were carried out. Consequently, refits to be undertaken periodically were not undertaken duly on time and the time taken for completing the refits was much longer than the prescribed time. During 2003 to 2010, out of 257 refits due for AOPVs/OPVs and FPV/IPV, only 107 could be undertaken indicating a shortfall of 58 percent and th.e time taken for various refits was 86 percent to 127 percent more than the benchmarked timelines. Since, a vessel which was not refitted when due, couldn't be said to be fully role worthy and when vessels spend more time undergoing refit, they were not available for operations, ICG operated its vessels with sub-optimal state of preparedness.
Coast Guard Director General K Natarajan said 25 September 2019 the force, which made a humble beginning in 1977, had 142 ships and 62 aircraft for exclusive economic surveillance in territorial waters. “In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative, about 50 additional ships and boats are under construction at various shipbuilding yards and soon will be inducted into our fleets”, he said. On the aviation front, he said production of 16 Mark III advanced light helicopter (Helo) by HAL, Bengaluru was ‘in progress’ and the first Helo was likely to be inducted by March 2020.
He said the plan was to enhance the number of Coast Guard ships and boats to 200 and 100 aircraft by 2025 to keep pace with future challenges in maritime zones of India. Noting that maritime terrorism, piracy, trafficking and marine pollution were identified as common maritime threats by all maritime nations, he said these challenges are not only limited by the boundaries but also calls for a cooperative framework by the maritime nations to deal with such menace through bilateral and multilateral agreements. He said the Coast Guard has ventured into cooperative agreements with various nations, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
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