Centre begins work on setting up Bureau of Port Security on lines of BCAS

NEW DELHI: Barely a day after PM Narendra Modi highlighted the need for better port security at the meeting of state police chiefs, govt has begun work on setting up a Bureau of Port Security to deal with these issues of all such establishments of central and state govts and private players. This will be on the lines of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), sources said.
TOI has learnt that home minister Amit Shah will chair the meeting on Thursday, which will be attended by top officials from port and shipping ministry, home secretary and chiefs of CISF and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to chalk out the roadmap and details. The move gains importance considering that there have been cases of seizure of contraband items and the need for a uniform security protocol.
Sources said the strategic move is aimed at enhancing coordination among the stakeholders, including enforcement agencies, port authorities, and maritime security establishments. “Currently, there is uniform security protocol for 12 major ports under the Central govt and CISF is deployed. But minor ports (under state and private players) are now handling more cargo and these deploy private security personnel for internal access. A uniform system will ensure quicker responses to security issues and incidents,” said an official.
The Merchant Shipping Bill, which will be introduced during the current session of Parliament envisages the setting up of the Bureau of Port Security, which will function under the control of a designated authority. “As we expand our facilities and increase maritime trade, ensuring safety of ports and shipping routes is vital. This move will contribute to safer navigation, secure cargo handling, and protection against potential security breaches,” said another official.