Navy is maintaining enhanced vigil across India's maritime interests: Navy Chief

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral D.K. Joshi on Tuesday assured the nation that the Indian Navy is maintaining enhanced vigil across the entire area of India's maritime interests.

"Our aim is to facilitate a peaceful and conducive maritime environment to sustain economic developmental activities, and social well-being of the nation and citizens, through a proactive operational philosophy and cooperative linkages with other nations in Indian Ocean Rim (IOR)," he told media here today.

Admiral Joshi further said that coastal security remains a key focus area, but added that with frequent exercises and setting up of Joint Operations Centers, coordination between various agencies has improved considerably.

"Situational awareness has also improved with phased implementation of National AIS Network and Coastal Radar Chains," he said.

He said that the Indian Navy is constantly upgrading the military infrastructure and facilities in India's island territories to improve surveillance and operations.

"While downstream activities are being progressed, we are concurrently working towards further augmentation of assets and infrastructure under Coastal Security Phase 11," he said.

He further said that a Coastal Security Bill to further improve multiple agency and Centre-State interface has also been drafted.