India's first Coast Guard academy to come up in Kerala

Antony said 164 acres land for the academy had already been acquired by Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, the state's infrastructure development agency.

As coastal security was a major area of concern, the role of Coast Guard had increased in recent times. It was in view this that the defence ministry decided to set up an academy exclusive to bring out personnel with specialised training in coastal security operations, he said.

Indian Cost Guard had become an important agency in maintaining the security of the territorial waters of the country in view of terrorist threats and increasing presence of pirates. Antony said the academy will have the potential to become one of best such institution in Asia.