Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 5, : Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will open the first coastal police station at Kollam district in Kerala on February 9.

Kerala will become the first state to establish coastal police stations in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Kerala was earlier sanctioned eight coastal police stations to strengthen security in coastal areas at an outlay of Rs. 43.56 crore.

In addition to Neendakara, the other stations are at Vizhinjam, Fort Kochi, Thodapalli, Beypore, Azhikel, Bekel and Kodugallore.

For the Neendakara station, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had provided training to 50 personnel from the Kerala Police.

State Home Minister Kodeyeri Balakrishnan said that the reason behind the functioning of these stations is to prevent any infiltration and smuggling of arms from outside the country.

He said vigil groups, each consisting of 10 fishermen, would be constituted as members of these groups. The members would be provided with mobile phones and identity cards. (ANI)