Coast Guard's Rs 32,000 cr expansion plan to see higher pvt participation

Currently, the private sector participation stands at around 30-35%

The Indian Coast Guard has drawn up a Rs 32,000 crore plan for 2017-2022, which will see participation from the private sector.

After launching Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), built by L&T Shipbuilding at Kattupalli near Chennai, V S R Murthy, additional director general, Indian Coast Guard said  40 years ago the Indian Coast Guard started its service with three vessels, today the inventory is 130 ships and 62 aircraft.

The Indian Coast Guard fleet strength will touch 200 ships and 100 aircraft by 2022, he said.

"We have an action plan which includes platform, aircraft, shore base infrastructure among others. The outlay is