The government will start distribution of smart identity card for people living in coastal areas in the next two months.

"We have started personalisation and production of identity cards for coastal area. The distribution of these cards will start in two months or so. Around 3,331 villages will be covered initially and 8 million cards will be distributed," C Chandramouli, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner said at Smartcards Expo 2011 on Wednesday.

He said that each of these card will have unique identity number on them. The government has spent Rs 216 crore, out of which close to Rs 133 crore had been spent on smart card and the rest of the amount on data collection, an official of the department said on sidelines of the event.

These identity cards are multipurpose ones that can replace various other cards issued by state and central government like ration card and others.

"The cards will carry biometric data which will include finger print, iris scan and photograph along with UID number," Chandramouli said. The I-cards will provide nationality, professional and legal proof and lead to easy detection of infiltrators, masquerading as fishermen in the coastal areas.