In recent events, the Minister of External Affairs briefed the parliament on the government’s projects on border infrastructure and connectivity. This briefing followed an official Security Conference report indicating that Indian forces had lost access to 26 of its 65 patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 2020. This article aims to shed light on the developments, importance of border infrastructure as well as other initiatives to secure borders.
Developments in Border Infrastructure
Several measures have been adopted to bolster connectivity to the LAC and neighboring countries, namely through roadwork, bridges, tunnels, highways, waterways, railways, power lines, and fuel pipelines. Notable instances include the doubling of road length constructed in China border areas between 2014 to 2022 compared to the period from 2008-2014, and cross-border projects like the Motihari – Amlekhgunj Pipeline with Nepal and the Maitri Setu, High Speed Diesel pipeline with Bangladesh.
Why Border Infrastructure is Significant
India’s territorial disputes with China and Pakistan, coupled with porous borders across challenging terrains, underscore the critical role of border infrastructure. Despite previous conflicts and wars, India’s existing border infrastructure is insufficient, and the responsibilities are divided among military, para-military, and police forces resulting in a lack of coordination. The inadequacy often leads to exploitation by smugglers, drug traffickers, and terrorists.
Other Initiatives to Secure Borders
The Vibrant Villages Programme, announced in Budget 2022-23, aims to provide infrastructure, housing, tourist facilities, renewable energy, and support for livelihood generation for scarcely populated border villages. The Border Area Development Programme (BADP) was launched to ensure balanced development of border areas and promote a feeling of security among the border population. The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) that deploys advanced surveillance technologies has also been implemented along Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders.
Gist of Border Infrastructure Development
Securing borders involves monitoring through the CIBMS, constructing roads for swift troop movements, and employing interception techniques like BOLD-QIT. Against threats from countries such as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, different measures have been taken, such as armored vehicle capable infrastructure, high altitude airfields, and bigger and more effective BOLD-QIT systems.
Future Directions
The pathway ahead includes continuous investment in physical infrastructure like roads and bridges especially along the border with China, enhancing telecommunications and transportation networks to improve connectivity with neighboring countries. It also includes improving the ability of border security forces to effectively patrol and monitor the border region through tech upgrade and coordinating with neighboring countries to develop infrastructural projects beneficial to both parties.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Past Questions
This section provides examples of questions related to this topic from previous years’ UPSC Civil Services Examinations. It includes issues relating to border management, challenges posed by external actors to India’s internal security and steps required for effective border area management. This can be useful for understanding the type of questions asked in the examinations and for preparing answers around this topic.
*Note: The Department of Border Management comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is tasked with strengthening border policing and guarding, creating infrastructure like roads, fencing, and flood lighting on the borders.*
Sources Referenced
This article draws information from a report by The Hindu (TH), an Indian daily newspaper.
