Union home minister Amit Shah reviews port security bureau plan, pushes CISF-trained guards
NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah, who on Friday reviewed the progress in establishment of a Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), the dedicated agency proposed to oversee regulatory and inspection functions relating to security of ships and port facilities, emphasised that only licensed private security agencies, with personnel trained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), should be trusted with port security.CISF was designated as the ‘recognised security organisation’ for port security last year under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPFSC), a development that aligns with the Narendra Modi govt’s vision of port-led growth as it focuses on a ‘blue economy’ a key driver of economic expansion. Chairing the review meeting here to assess the working of the ports, shipping and waterways ministry and the fisheries department — attended by shipping minister Sarbanand Sonowal, Intelligence Bureau director, CISF DG and senior officials of the home ministry, ports ministry and fisheries department — Shah also issued directions for strengthened security of fishing harbours and fish landing centres, while asking for their list to be compiled with help of the administration and police brass of all coastal districts. He said that the registration of fishermen should be made simpler and adequate security arrangements, including the permanent deployment of personnel, be ensured at the fish landing centres. Seeking early commencement of the training of security personnel, the home minister called for creation of a database of such personnel to be deployed under BoPS. He said that all ports covered under the BoPS security framework should have container scanning facilities. CISF was told to conduct trial runs of the security arrangements at major ports like the Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Mundra Port.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 function under the ports and shipping ministry. It will ensure the timely analysis, collection, and sharing of security-related information regarding ports, with a special focus on cyber security. The bureau will also have a dedicated division to safeguard the IT infrastructure of ports against digital threats.Shah told the meeting on Friday that the Modi govt is firmly committed to making the country’s coastal security “unbreachable”.
