Smart Fence Pilot Project To Seal Indian Borders Started In Assam
Representational Image: Business Standard
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Comprehensive, integrated border management system (IBMS) is part of the Indian government’s vision to seal the vulnerable borders along Pakistan and Bangladesh completely. This project will make use of technical surveillance and alarm systems especially in steep terrain where physical fencing is not an option. BSF DG KK Sharma told Livemint, on Wednesday, that the pilot phase has been rolled out on a 55 km stretch in Dhubri, Assam. Till now, the 55 km stretch in Assam across river Brahmaputra was patrolled by speedboats.

The Border Security Force (BSF) was established on Dec 1, 1965, and comes under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). BSF guards more than 6300 km of the Indian border adjoining Bangladesh and Pakistan. Parts of these borders are prone to smuggling operations, and infiltration as the terrain is unsuited for the erection of guard posts. About 2000 km has been identified as a priority, and infrared, radars will be used to seal the vulnerable areas.

The smart fence project is also slated to be operationalised on two 5 km stretches along India-Pakistan border in Jammu, later this month. DG Sharma described the surveillance and monitoring systems in brief without going into sensitive details. He added, “in fact, on the Pakistan side, we may go in for CIBMS even at places where we have fencing because we would like to be doubly sure.”

As told to PTI, DG said that the technology required is not complicated to acquire but integrating all components together is the challenge. He mentioned that most of the equipment is being sourced from abroad for now but few Indian manufacturers are catching up. Once the gadgets and technology are in place, the system will provide a live feed to the BSF outposts, and in case of an alarm, the soldiers will respond.

In March 2017, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, while addressing a BSF passing out parade in MP, that the Pakistan border will be sealed by 2018. However, the DG of BSF said yesterday that the estimated time for sealing the identified 2000 km is about 3-5 more years.

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Editor : Abhinav Joshi Joshi

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