Daijiworld Media Network - Bhuj
Bhuj, May 29: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that the government is working on a major overhaul of border management, shifting the Border Security Force (BSF) from traditional border guarding to a wider “territorial security” framework under a proposed Smart Border Security Project.
Speaking to BSF personnel at Border Outpost G7 in Bhuj, Gujarat, during the force’s 60th year, Shah said the new model would strengthen security along both the India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh borders through an integrated and technology-driven system.
“In this 60th year, we are transforming the concept of border security. Instead of only guarding borders, we will move towards a broader territorial security approach,” he said.
The Home Minister said the proposed framework would bring together multiple stakeholders, including the BSF, armed forces, local police, civil administration, and even local communities, to create a multi-layered security network.
Describing it as a “quadrangular concept,” Shah said the initiative aims to build a coordinated system of surveillance and response across India’s border regions.
Under the Smart Border Security Project, the government plans to deploy advanced technologies such as drones, radar systems, and modern watchtowers to strengthen real-time monitoring and response capabilities.
“We will integrate drones, radars, watch towers, and the most modern technologies along with our jawans to create a strong security grid,” Shah said, adding that the system would make border infiltration “extremely difficult.”
He further said the project, currently in the planning stage, would involve investments worth several thousand crore rupees and would significantly enhance operational efficiency while reducing the hardships faced by personnel posted in remote and challenging terrains.
Shah also indicated that the government is considering expanding BSF jurisdiction in certain areas, though he clarified that no final decision has been taken yet.
A large part of the initiative, according to him, has already been conceptualised and work is underway to implement key components of the plan.
During his visit, Shah also praised BSF personnel for their service in extreme environments, ranging from deserts and marshlands to dense forests and mountainous regions, calling their role vital to national security.
The Home Minister’s tour included the inauguration of border infrastructure projects and a detailed review of surveillance arrangements in sensitive regions such as Sir Creek and Harami Nala in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Officials said the proposed reforms aim to create a more unified and technology-enabled border security architecture capable of responding to evolving security challenges.