NEW DELHI: As per an official release, the Defence Ministry inked a contract with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) on Monday for the building of eight Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs 473 crore.

Commodore B.B. Nagpal (retd), Chairman and Managing Director of GSL, and the Ministry's Joint Secretary, Maritime and Systems, Dinesh Kumar, signed the contract. GSL will design, develop, and manufacture these surface platforms in India under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.

These eight high-speed vessels will be stationed along the coast with the ability to operate in shallow waters, enhancing the security apparatus along the vast coastline, according to the statement, which also stated that in addition to meeting the goals of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat,' it would boost indigenous shipbuilding capability and increase job opportunities in the sector.

The contract will strengthen the government's determination to turn India into a defence manufacturing hub that serves both home and foreign markets. The marine zones of India are separated into five Coast Guard Regions: North-West, West, East, North-East, and Andaman and Nicobar, with Regional Headquarters in Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Port Blair, respectively, for effective command and control.

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