The inauguration of the administrative block is the first major step towards setting up of a full-fledged air enclave, which will ensure 24x7 air operations from CIAL airport, the Coast Guard said in a release.
It would also be a big step towards safeguarding the Indian exclusive economic zone and to carry out Coast Guard charter of duties as mandated by Government of India, it added.
The facility will be operationalised in the near future, the release said.
Once fully activated, the CGAE at 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.
Additional Director General K Natarajan, Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard), Inspector General KR Nautiyal, Commander Coast Guard Region (West), Rear Admiral RJ Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Dinesh Kumar C, Deputy General Manager (Operations), CIAL besides senior officials from Indian Navy and Indian Army were present.
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