Within three years of the 26/11 terrorist attacks, the Mumbai Police purchased 46 boats to patrol the city’s coast. However, only eight of them are functional currently.
Among the states located on the west coast of the country, Maharashtra has the highest number of police patrol boats. Currently 30 police boats are in operation in the state and regularly patrol the state's coasts.
Prior to the attacks on November 26, the Mumbai Police had only four fiberglass boats for patrolling the waters. This equipment shortage was also highlighted by the Pradhan Inquiry Commission, a High-Level Enquiry Commission that investigated the response of the security forces at that time.
Of the total boats, there were 23 speed boats, 19 amphibious boats and four other “Sealeg” boats — an advanced amphibious craft.
The Mumbai Police has requested the Home Department for 22 additional boats, with plans to allocate 12 for coastal patrolling. Additionally, they aim to modernise 13 out of their existing fleet of 23 boats.
Besides, after the sea trials of the said boat, its use has also been started for maritime patrolling, other boats will also be operated on the same route.
To monitor the patrolling of all patrol boats, the state has sanctioned INR 73 lakh to set up control rooms in all 7 coastal units. With the help of new technology, this control room will keep an eye on the police boats patrolling the sea and will also be able to guide them.
The state government has sanctioned a fund of Rs 51 crore for leasing 5 Intermediate Support Vessels (ISVs) for the next five years. These are big boats and have the ability to go deep into the ocean.
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