In a first, coastal police unit gets two ATVs, 9 more in pipeline

Panaji: Aiming to strengthen security along the state’s 105-km long coastline, two all-terrain vehicles (ATV) have been introduced in the coastal police unit of Goa police. Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday flagged off the two ATVs at Miramar beach on Tuesday.

ATVs are considered to be an effective way to patrol vast beach stretches as opposed to routine patrolling vehicles which tend to get stuck in the sand. Goa director general of police (DGP) Pranab Nanda said the vehicles, which can also be used for rescues and other operations, will help the coastal police unit patrol beaches with greater ease and efficiency, especially after dark. Stressing on the need for an enhanced surveillance mechanism to secure the state’s porous coastline, he said that nine more ATVs will be introduced during the course of the year. The newly-launched vehicles have been gifted by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), as part of its CRS initiative. GSL also maintains and looks after the interceptor boats of the Goa police department.

Senior police officer said that a proposal has been sent to the state government calling for each of the state’s seven coastal police stations — Tiracol, Siolim, Chapora, Panaji, Harbour, Betul and Talpona — be equipped with an ATV. Currently, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the only two states that have purchased ATVs for their coastal police stations.

The ATVs are part of the second phase of the modernisation of the coastal police taken up by the ministry of home affairs. In phase one, the coastal police were equipped with nine boats, including speedboats. In the third phase, few longer boats will be purchased.

Goa’s first coastal police station, the one at Siolim, was established in December 2010, in the wake of the terror attacks at Mumbai.