Amit Shah says the Centre is fencing the 1,610-km India–Myanmar border at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore to curb illegal infiltration, narcotics trafficking and strengthen border security.
New Delhi, July 10: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Centre is undertaking one of its biggest border security initiatives by fencing the entire 1,610-km India–Myanmar border, describing it as a key measure to tackle illegal infiltration, cross-border crime and demographic changes in border regions.
Addressing the Land Border Districts' Superintendents of Police Conference–2026 in New Delhi, Shah said the project, estimated to cost Rs 31,000 crore, is aimed at building a stronger and more integrated border management system. The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Directors General of Police from border states and other senior officials.
The Home Minister said the conference had given an institutional framework to the government's comprehensive approach towards border security. He added that similar efforts would be extended to coastal security in the future, with discussions focused on operational challenges, policy measures and coordination among various agencies responsible for safeguarding India's borders.
Focus on India–Myanmar border
A significant portion of Shah's address centred on the India–Myanmar border, which passes through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The border has long posed security and administrative challenges due to its difficult terrain, extensive forest cover and long stretches that remain unfenced.
According to Shah, the fencing project is intended to strengthen surveillance and create an effective barrier against illegal activities while improving overall border management. He said the government aims to prevent illegal infiltration, proxy war, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, organised crime, cybercrime, drone-related threats and radicalisation through a more robust security architecture.
He also said the project seeks to address demographic changes in border districts that, according to the government, are linked to illegal infiltration from across the international boundary.
The Home Minister stated that the initiative is also intended to make border villages more secure and economically viable by improving infrastructure and creating conditions that discourage outward migration from these remote areas.
Smart border vision
Shah said the government's vision is to develop one of the world's most modern border security systems based on the concept of a "Smart Border." He said this would involve greater use of technology, improved coordination among border guarding forces, state governments, district administrations and central agencies, along with active participation from local communities.
He described the approach as the creation of a "strong quadrangular security grid" involving border guarding forces, civil administration, government stakeholders and local citizens.
According to Shah, a secure international border, economically vibrant border regions and vigilant local communities together form the foundation of national security.
Shift from reactive to proactive security
The Home Minister said the government has moved away from a reactive model of border management towards a proactive and integrated security strategy. Instead of relying solely on isolated border outposts, he said the focus is now on establishing an integrated security grid capable of responding quickly to emerging threats.
He emphasised the importance of timely reporting of demographic changes and unusual developments in border areas, saying information should flow rapidly from grassroots-level officials to higher authorities to facilitate early intervention.
Border infrastructure expanded
Shah said investment in border infrastructure has increased by 400 per cent under the present government. He said the enhanced investment has enabled the adoption of scientific methods and modern technologies for strengthening border security across the country.
He also referred to the Vibrant Villages Programme, under which the government is seeking to improve infrastructure and living conditions in villages located along India's international borders. The programme aims to generate employment, reduce migration and ensure full implementation of government welfare schemes in frontier regions.
According to the Home Minister, strengthening border villages is as important as strengthening physical security infrastructure because prosperous border communities contribute directly to national security.
Illegal infiltration and demographic concerns
Shah said illegal infiltration remains the primary factor behind demographic changes in many border areas. He referred to the government's recently announced Demography Mission, which has been tasked with studying demographic changes, identifying abnormal factors contributing to population growth and recommending measures to address them.
He said the government is committed to preventing demographic changes arising from what he described as "unnatural factors" and reiterated that effective border management is central to achieving this objective.
Fight against cross-border crime
The Home Minister said the government's border security strategy is also linked to its broader efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and organised crime.
He said that while India has made significant progress in addressing Naxalism, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and insurgency in the Northeast, the next major priority is to inflict "serious damage" on the narcotics network over the next three years.
According to Shah, stronger border infrastructure, enhanced surveillance and improved coordination among security agencies will play an important role in preventing cross-border smuggling and disrupting criminal networks operating along international borders.
He added that the government's objective is to build a system that effectively prevents illegal infiltration while ensuring long-term security and development in India's border regions.
