Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the establishment of Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), describing coastal security as impenetrable. He directed for deployment of CISF-trained private security personnel at ports and strengthening of security at fishing centres.
New Delhi [भारत]July 10 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday declared that India’s coastal security is impenetrable. He stressed the need to create a database of security personnel to be deployed under the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS).
Review of establishment of Port Security Bureau
Reviewing the progress made in setting up the BoPS with Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the Home Minister directed that port security should be entrusted only to licensed private security agencies, and only those private security personnel who have received training from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) should be deployed.
He directed the CISF to conduct trial runs of the security arrangements handed over to BoPS at major ports across the country, including Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mundra Port.
The Minister emphasized that the training of security personnel for the Port Security Training Institute (PSTI) should be started as soon as possible using the existing infrastructure available for the institute. He further asked for container scanning facilities at all ports covered under BoPS security framework.
Chairing the meeting, Shah said, “The government is strongly committed to making the coastal security of the country impenetrable. BoPS is being established as a statutory body under the provisions of Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. The bureau will be headed by a Director General and will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.”
He further said that the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and inspection functions related to the security of ships and port facilities, and it will ensure timely analysis, collection and sharing of security-related information, with a special focus on cyber security. “The bureau will also have a dedicated division to protect the IT infrastructure of ports from digital threats,” Shah said.
Emphasis on security of fishing ports
Shah also held a meeting with Fisheries Department officials and issued necessary instructions to strengthen the security of fishing ports and fish landing centres.
He directed that the ‘Nabhamitra’ app developed by ISRO should be more widely promoted so that more fishermen can download it on their mobile phones.
The Minister asked the Fisheries Department officials to write a letter to the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of all the districts to submit the list of all the fish landing centers located in their respective districts to the Central Government. He also said that the registration process should be made simpler and more accessible for fishermen.
Amit Shah further directed that District Superintendents of Police should ensure adequate security arrangements at fish landing centers and only permanent police personnel should be deployed at these facilities.
Union Home Secretary in the meeting; Director of Intelligence Bureau; Secretary, Border Management; Secretary, Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Secretary, Fisheries Department; Director General of CISF; And other senior officials were present. (ANI)
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