Launches India’s first smart fence along IB

JAMMU: In a significant landmark, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated India’ maiden "smart border fencing” pilot projects under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme, aimed at plugging the gaps along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the border.

The new technology has the capability to detect any type of movement, whether on the ground, water or below the ground, using remote sensing equipments being managed from control rooms at Border Out Posts (BOPs), thus helping in better management of border security.

On Monday, Singh inaugurated two such projects—each installed at 5 Km along IB with Pakistan in two different districts of Jammu and Samba in first phase. The centre plans to implement the new fence along the 2600-km IB from Jammu and Kashmir to Assam.

"Border security is our top most priority. I am happy to inaugurate two pilot projects under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System) today. We have already identified vulnerable areas and gaps on all borders," he said after inaugurating the new smart fencing system.

Singh said the government was working towards upgrading border infrastructure, and more than 600 km roads have been constructed in border areas and hundreds of border out posts have been built.

He added that 126 new BOPs are being constructed and flood lights have been installed in 750 kms of border. “There are many points, where fencing is not perfect due to tough terrains or rivers, so this new system will work there too,” added Singh.

“Borders will become stronger with this system. I have visited Israel and saw the system there and then began with this project here too, as we are having 2026 kms vulnerable border with Pakistan.

"Initially the CIBMS project will be implemented to cover gaps in the physical fencing on the border. Subsequently, these technological solution will be implemented on the entire border," he said.

Today two pilot projects were launched here. Another CIBMS project, covering a 60-km stretch in Assam, will be launched in November. We are dedicating this system to those jawans who sacrificed their lives to safeguard the borders of the country, he said.

"After the introduction of this technology, our borders will become safer than before. Earlier, our jawans used to remain physically present in harsh conditions, regardless of fog, darkness or stormy conditions. This system will reduce casualties and help de-stress troops who are stationed in border areas for long periods. The need for physical presence will also come down, he said.

The CIBMS involves the range of state of art surveillance technology including thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms that form an invisible land fence, aerostats for aerial surveillance, unattended ground sensors that can help detect intrusion bids.

This system will also be installed along borders with Bangladesh at North-East and border with China at Ladakh and North-East in the next phases, the Union HM informed.

Later, Singh also took part in a Swachhta Abhiyan inside BSF Frontier Headquarters at Paloura and then moved towards forward post Makwal area at International Border and had on the spot survey of the newly launched project.

He also interacted with the BSF soldiers deployed at the forward areas.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) Monday said the CIBMS would be effective even in inclement weather conditions.

"Whether it is a fog, floods or storm, when it becomes humanly difficult to detect movement, this system will help the BSF personnel to maintain vigil even during such situations," BSF Additional Director General A K Sharma told reporters here.

"Two pilot projects covering five-km each along the IB in Jammu region have been completed and once the system is rolled out fully, it will make the border security foolproof," Sharma said.

He said the BSF is using individual sensors for detection of activity along the borders for a very long time but the new system brought all these sensors together and linked these with communication system and command control centre.

"Where there is no border fencing like stream and ravines which we call as gaps, this system would be very effective in helping guard these places and plug these gaps," Sharma said, adding fencing is a physical barrier and has its own role the CIBMS would be presently used as per requirement.

He said the system would help the BSF to pick up any type of movement, whether under water or earth or whatever the condition, and accordingly the quick reaction teams would be launched to counter the threat.

Earlier, the BSF personnel used to act after physically monitoring the border but after the roll out of this system, the quick reactions teams would be launched immediately after any movement is detected without any delay.

"It will definitely have an impact as the monitoring will be done by the technology," he said.

Asked about the effectiveness of the latest technology on tunnels which are being dug beneath the IB to push armed terrorists into the state, the BSF officer said this system has the capability to detect tunnel to a certain level beneath the ground.

"We have underground and underwater sensors under this system coupled with cameras and thermal imager," he said, adding this system would help the force to work in a better way and efficient manner.