Indian Coast Guard Academy

The Indian Coast Guard Academy (ICGA) is a training establishment for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel, which is currently under construction in Azhikkal, Kannur, Kerala.^[1]

History

Indian Coast Guard personnel were historically trained at the Indian Naval Academy (INA). Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Indian government initiated a program to triple the ICG force, assets and infrastructure. Both the Navy and the government recognized that the increased intake of ICG cadets would further tax the already-stretched INA facilities. This provided an added impetus for the Union Council of Ministers to approve the establishment of the ICGA in 2009.

The search for a site for the academy started in earnest in 2010. Various sites were considered for the academy, the primary criterion being ample space on the coastal waterfront. The Government of Kerala was keen to host the site in the state. Consequently, the then Minister for Industries and Commerce of Kerala, Elamaram Kareem, prevailed upon the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) to transfer some of its unutilized land in the coastal town of Azhikkal to the ICG for the academy. The transfer was completed on 24 February 2011. On 27 February, the then Defence Minister of India, A. K. Antony, announced the plans to start construction of the academy.^[2][3]

The foundation stone for the academy was laid on 28 May 2011.^[4]

Campus

ICGA is coming up on a 164 acres (0.66 km²) campus near Valapattanam estuary on the Arabian Sea in Irinavu near Azhikkal in Kannur district of northern Kerala. It is located about 8 miles (13 km) south of INA, Ezhimala, and the two maritime academies are expected to share some training infrastructure in the Kerala backwaters.

References