The Border Security Force (BSF) has initiated a collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to enhance surveillance along a critical 113-kilometre section of the India-Bangladesh border, particularly in the Sundarbans region known for its complex riverine and mangrove terrain. This decision comes in response to escalating national security concerns and intelligence reports suggesting an uptick in terrorist groups seeking to exploit the vulnerabilities of maritime and riverine routes for infiltration into India.
This strategic initiative was discussed during a high-level coastal security review conducted in mid-May at North Block, led by the Secretary (Border Management) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The review followed the recent completion of Operation Sindoor as the MHA continues its focus on curbing illegal immigration from Bangladesh and addressing cross-border terrorism, a situation highlighted by the deadly attacks in Pahalgam the previous month.
Intelligence assessments point to terrorist organizations targeting the Sundarbans’ remote and winding waterways for unauthorized entry into India. In response, the BSF is advocating for a technology-driven approach to border security. This would encompass advanced surveillance technologies such as drones, ground-based radar systems, satellite imaging, closed-circuit TV, and artificial intelligence-based monitoring frameworks.
MHA officials report that a feasibility study involving the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and DRDO has already been undertaken. However, concrete implementation of the surveillance systems in the Sundarbans is contingent upon the DRDO completing its current surveillance projects in the marshy creek sectors of Gujarat.
Currently, the BSF oversees an approximate 123 km length of the Sundarbans sector, utilizing 96 patrol boats and eight floating Border Outposts (BOPs). The region’s unique and challenging landscape, populated with dense mangrove forests and intricate tidal waterways, limits the efficacy of conventional patrolling methods. This has prompted a demand for unmanned systems designed for intelligent surveillance to address the existing gaps in monitoring capabilities.
Additionally, the BSF has made a request to the West Bengal government for land to establish seven new observation towers and expand its co-location model with the Forest Department, where BSF facilities are integrated with forest infrastructure. Presently, only three co-located posts exist, and while officials from West Bengal have shown willingness to provide land at two sites, further approvals are still pending. Sources from the MHA indicate that the lack of participation from the Forest Department in field surveys has stalled progress.
During the recent review meeting, where BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary was present, both BSF and local authorities were encouraged to explore alternative sites and jointly assess their feasibility for establishing the new observation points.
This initiative reflects a larger strategic effort by the Indian government to fortify its eastern border against potential threats from terrorist networks and illegal migrants. In addition to collaborating with the DRDO for technological support, the government is also increasing troop deployments, intensifying deportation efforts, and enhancing intelligence partnerships with other relevant agencies.
The Sundarbans surveillance project marks a pivotal advancement in modernizing border management practices in one of India’s most challenging operational environments.
