India has embarked on an ambitious endeavour to fence its 1,643-km border with Myanmar, a project projected to cost ₹31,000 crore over the next decade.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), seeks to address pressing concerns of smuggling, human trafficking, and armed infiltration while maintaining cultural and familial ties across the frontier.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasising the Modi government’s commitment to “impenetrable borders,” highlighted the strategic importance of the project during his earlier announcements.
Shah stated, “The government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1,643-kilometre Indo-Myanmar border. To facilitate better surveillance, a patrol track along the border will also be paved.”
Of the total border length, 10 km in Manipur’s Moreh has already been fenced, and pilot projects employing a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) are underway in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, each covering 1 km.
A 20-km stretch in Manipur has also been approved, with work set to commence shortly.
Myanmar 2021 military coup and its repurcussions
The volatile situation in Myanmar, following the 2021 military coup, has exacerbated cross-border issues. Over the past year, the conflict has driven more than 31,000 refugees into India. In addition to humanitarian concerns, the region has witnessed a surge in smuggling and trafficking activities.
Authorities report seizures of narcotics worth ₹1,125 crore along the border in the last six to seven months.
“Myanmar’s ongoing instability has further aggravated the situation, with a surge in smuggling, human trafficking and movement of armed infiltrators,” an official source stated.
In Manipur, ethnic violence between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has claimed over 250 lives since May 2023, displacing more than 60,000 people.
The porous border has been identified as a critical factor contributing to the unrest, with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh urging the Ministry of Home Affairs to cancel the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
Reactions?
The fencing project has drawn mixed reactions. While it aims to enhance security and regulate trade, some communities in Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh have opposed the initiative, citing disruptions to ethnic and cultural ties.
The FMR, established in the 1970s and last revised in 2016, allowed residents within 16 km of the border to cross without a visa.
Experts have expressed concerns over the financial and social implications of the project. Critics argue that the ₹31,000 crore initiative could strain trade and people-to-people connections.
However, the government plans to address these challenges through a network of gates equipped with biometric systems to facilitate regulated cross-border movement.
The successful completion of a 10-km fenced stretch in Moreh, Manipur, demonstrates the potential benefits of the project.
Officials highlight that the fence will not only bolster security but also regulate legitimate trade, benefiting local communities.
“The fencing will also regulate and boost legitimate trade, ensuring economic benefits for the local communities while eliminating the adverse impact of illegal trade,” an official concerned with the development said.
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