An exclusive centre to train commandos on the lines of the National Security Guards (NSG) will soon come up in Kheda district of Gujarat as part of the police upgradation programme initiated by the central government.

This commando training unit (CTU) is being set up in Khalal village in Kathlal taluka of the district on banks of river Vatrak.

"There is a need for trained commands in Gujarat. And presently the training is being done at the police academy in Karai, Gandhinagar. But for commando training we need much bigger ground and facility. The Karai police academy, spread in 24 acres land is not sufficient enough. Hence, an exclusive unit is being set up at Khalal village," additional director general of police (ADGP), training, Fazal Guard said.

According to the ADGP, over 150 acres of land has already been allotted by the state government for the CTU. It has been approved under the 13th finance commission.

"The CTU is part of the police upgradation programme of the centre and is likely to become operational within five to six months time," Guard said.

For this training unit land would be provided by the state government, while the other infrastructure would be financed by the union government, he said. The land has already been demarcated but the final paper work is under process.

Guard said they were also in the process of preparing a master plan for the training Centre which will have trainers coming from the NSG units. The CTU would have different training tracks, jungle trails, and other infrastructure with latest modules for commando training, preparing them to combat any kind of attack be it rioting or hostage situation.

He further said besides training commandos from Gujarat they would also make this facility available for personnel from other states on case-to-case basis.

"If we are approached by other states for commando training, we would provide them the necessary help and training module," he said.

Guard said at the Karai police academy they have already trained 2,000 commandos from Bihar and Jharkhand over the past few years.

"Training police officials and commandos from other state also helps generate revenue for us which could be used for betterment of the facility," he said.