Odisha has taken a significant step to reinforce coastal security and national pride by hoisting the Indian tricolour on Udabali Island, located a few kilometres off Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district. The flag was unfurled by Odisha Police Director General Y.B. Khurania, symbolising both vigilance and India’s sovereignty over its maritime borders.
This flag-hoisting exercise is part of a larger initiative covering 13 other coastal islands, aimed at preventing potential infiltration and illegal settlement in these remote areas. Fishermen in the region have been advised to exercise caution and cooperate with authorities to strengthen maritime security.
DG Khurania highlighted that Odisha Police have activated long-term plans to modernise coastal security infrastructure, including enhanced surveillance measures, during the All-India DGP & IGP Conference in Bhubaneswar. This step aligns with directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasised hoisting the national flag on uninhabited coastal islands as part of Republic Day celebrations to assert sovereignty and bolster maritime safety.
Authorities reiterated that safeguarding ports and coastal areas is a shared responsibility between the government and citizens, with the multi-island flag-hoisting initiative forming a crucial part of Odisha’s coastal security strategy.
