Tripura begins pilot project for 'smart border' with Bangladesh
Technology-driven security plan targets trafficking, smuggling.
Tripura's government has launched a pilot project to develop a "smart border" along its frontier with Bangladesh, aiming to strengthen security through technology and curb cross-border crimes, Chief Minister Manik Saha said today (13 September).
The pilot is being implemented in Sepahijala district, which shares more than 100km of border with Bangladesh, Saha told reporters on the sidelines of a blood donation camp at the Border Security Force's Tripura Frontier headquarters in West Tripura.
"A pilot study on smart border has got underway in Sepahijala district, which shares over a 100km border with Bangladesh. I heard the authorities have already floated a tender to push the plan," he said.
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Tripura shares an 856km international border with Bangladesh, around 80% of which has been fenced, according to Saha.
He said some stretches remain unfenced because of difficult terrain, including rivers and other geographical barriers, as well as objections from across the border.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah visited Tripura in June and announced plans to introduce "smart borders" by combining local administration, technology and the efforts of security personnel.
Saha said stronger border security would significantly help curb human trafficking, drug smuggling and other forms of cross-border crime.
