At the start of the 20th Century the Government of India made organised steps to upgrade the coastal artillery mounted in the various batteries at the main ports.
On the 17th November 1900 the Secretary of State for India wrote to the Secretary of State for War concerning the “remodelling of the armaments of the ports” in India with Breech Loading guns. The Under Secretary of State for War in consultation with the Admiralty, Inspector General of Fortifications and Director General of Ordnance, provided the following response on 18th March 1901.