Kochi: The Indian Coast Guard has established its air enclave for ensuring 24x7 air operations from Cochin international airport towards safeguarding Indian exclusive economic zones and carrying out Coast Guard charter of duties. Director general - Coast Guard (DGCG) Rajendra Singh inaugurated the administrative block of the Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE), Kochi, at Nedumbassery the other day. The facility will be operationalised shortly. According to officials, once fully activated, the CGAE, Kochi would commence air operations on the western seaboard of India, extending from the coastal states of Goa to Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands as well as in the exclusive economic zones of friendly neighbouring nations.
The inaugural function was attended by additional director general K. Natarajan, Coast Guard commander (western seaboard), inspector general K. R. Nautiyal, commander Coast Guard region (west), Rear Admiral R.J. Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, and Dinesh Kumar C., deputy general manager (operations), Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), besides other senior officials from Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Indian Army along with their families.
Addressing the gathering, the DGCG described the various initiatives taken by Indian Coast Guard in the recent past towards expanding and strengthening the aviation fleet, surface crafts and infrastructure apart from steps that are on the anvil for activating various air establishments shortly. The establishment of a full-fledged Coast Guard Air Enclave, Kochi was conceptualised in the year 2007 with the acquisition of 10.02 acres of land adjacent to CIAL, Nedumbassery and the construction commenced in 2013.
