The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will establish two new coastal sectors along India’s western and eastern coastlines from November 1, reorganising its security administration to strengthen the protection of nearly 250 major and minor seaports across the country.
The move is aimed at aligning the force’s operational and administrative structure with the growing strategic and economic importance of India’s maritime infrastructure, including ports handling crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), coal, steel and containerised cargo.
The reorganisation will involve the redistribution of existing field formations rather than a major expansion of personnel. Units currently operating under broader regional commands will be reorganised according to the strategic assets they protect, enabling more focused supervision and improved coordination.
The western coastal sector will oversee ports and facilities critical to the country’s energy supplies and container trade, while the eastern sector will focus on key maritime infrastructure supporting coal imports, steel production and growing trade across the Bay of Bengal.
India’s seaports are vital to international trade, industrial activity and energy security. With maritime facilities facing increasingly complex security challenges, the creation of dedicated coastal commands is expected to improve operational oversight and responsiveness.
The restructuring builds on the CISF’s established role in protecting critical infrastructure, including power plants, coal mines, steel factories, oil installations, government buildings and metro rail networks. Its security model combines access control, surveillance, perimeter protection and coordination with facility operators and other agencies.
Preparations for the transition include adjustments to training, equipment deployment and coordination procedures to ensure that the new formations become operational without disrupting existing security arrangements. Frontline responsibilities, including monitoring entry points, surveillance systems and facility perimeters, will continue as usual.
The new structure is expected to bring security administration closer to the operational requirements of individual sectors, strengthening the protection of strategic installations while supporting uninterrupted industrial and maritime operations.
The establishment of the two coastal sectors marks a significant organisational step in the CISF’s efforts to align infrastructure security with India’s evolving economic and strategic priorities.