Newly commissioned ICGS Vikram arrives at Mangaluru base
Mangaluru: Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vikram, the first in class of seven new generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) built by Larsen and Toubro, has arrived at its base port in Mangaluru on Sunday.
Contracted by Ministry of Defence (MoD) in March 2015 under government's initiative of ‘Make in India', the OPV was commissioned by union minister of state for defense Subash Bhamre at Kattupalli near Chennai on 11 April 2018 in the presence of DG Rajendra Singh, Director General, ICG.
The defense ship, after its keel was laid in March 2016, was completed in just 25 months of build period including trials and commissioning. The commissioning of indigenously designed and built ICGS Vikram has rendered a befitting curtain-raiser to ‘Make in India' theme of DEFEXPO, which is being organised in Chennai.
The vessel which is approximately 97m long, 15m wide, has 3.6m draught, 2140 tone displacement and a range of 5,000 NM. It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots. The OPVs are built with Integrated Platform Management System to enable unique control capabilities generally integrated into larger warships like frigates and destroyers.
The ship is also designed to carry one Twin Engine Light Helicopter and stage through of twin-engine heavy helicopter with night flying capabilities. It also has the capabilities to carry pollution response equipment to contain oil spill contamination at sea.
Vikram meaning ‘Valour' with a complement of 14 Officers and 88 men is commanded by Commandant Rajkamal Sinha.
The arrival of ICGS Vikram at Mangalore will be a significant milestone in augmenting the maritime security of Karnataka. The ship will enhance Indian Coast Guard's operational capabilities to discharge various naval tasks on Western Seaboard in general and the Maritime States of Karnataka in particular.
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Bihar polls: Elaborate security measures in place for counting of votes on Nov 14
Patna (PTI): Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Friday’s counting of votes polled in the Bihar assembly elections, across 46 centres in 38 districts of the state, officials said.
Schools in Patna will remain closed on Friday in view of the counting exercise, they said.
Bihar had registered a historic voter turnout of 67.13 per cent in the elections to the 243-member assembly in two phases on November 6 and November 11. A total of 7.45 crore voters were eligible to decide the electoral fate of 2,616 candidates.
“Counting arrangements have been made in all the 243 assembly constituencies. The exercise will be conducted by 243 Returning Officers in the presence of 243 Counting Observers and the candidates or their agents.
“A total of 4,372 counting tables, each staffed with one supervisor, counting assistant and micro-observer have been set up. More than 18,000 Counting Agents appointed by the nominees will also oversee the process,” the Election Commission said in a statement.
Counting of votes will commence at 8 am on Friday.
“As per the Commission’s directions, postal ballot counting will begin first, and counting of EVMs will start at 8.30 am,” it said.
“Adequate number of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and personnel of the Bihar Police have been deployed across the state to ensure smooth counting, and prevent any untoward incident,” a senior officer said.
He said 106 companies of security personnel from outside the state have also been deployed.
A poll official said EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections have been sealed inside strong rooms under a double-lock system.
“A two-tier security has been ensured at the counting centres. While the inner tier has been assigned to the CAPF, state police have been deployed at the outer rung. Besides, 24/7 CCTV surveillance and other security provisions are in place,” he added.
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