Odisha hoists Tricolour on Udabali island to boost coastal security

Odisha has taken a significant step to reinforce coastal security and national unity by hoisting the Indian national flag on Udabali Island, situated a few kilometres off Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district. The flag was unfurled by Odisha Police Director General Y.B. Khurania, making the tricolour flutter in mid-sea as a symbol of both pride and vigilance. This initiative also extends to 13 other coastal islands, signifying a concerted effort to assert sovereignty and deter potential infiltrators via sea routes. 

The move comes amid repeated allegations that Bangladeshi intruders enter coastal areas and establish settlements, prompting the Odisha Police to emphasise maritime safety. With many of the islands being deserted and potentially attractive to infiltrators, the symbolic presence of the tricolour is intended to highlight territorial integrity. Fishermen in the region have been advised to exercise heightened caution to help curb any illegal activities around these islands.

Long-Term Plans to Strengthen Coastal Defences

DG Khurania also announced that the Odisha Police have activated long-term plans to fortify coastal security arrangements, including modernisation and enhanced surveillance measures. He made this statement during the All-India DGP & IGP Conference held in Bhubaneswar, where discussions focused on protecting maritime borders and security priorities underscored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

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Authorities maintain that securing ports and coastal areas remains a shared responsibility of governments and citizens alike, with this multi-island flag-hoisting effort forming a central part of the government’s coastal security strategy.

This initiative follows a Prime Minister Narendra Modi directive to hoist the national flag on uninhabited coastal islands as part of Republic Day celebrations, reinforcing India’s sovereignty and maritime security.