Border Infrastructure and Management Scheme

Border Infrastructure India UPSC: Relevance

• GS 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas

Border Infrastructure India: Context

• Recently, Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to continue the umbrella scheme of Border Infrastructure & Management (BIM) from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total allocation of Rs. 13,020 crores.

Border Infrastructure & Management: Key points

• “Border Infrastructure and Management” (BIM) is a central sector scheme and it has been continued over the 15^th Finance Commission cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The scheme will strengthen the border infrastructure for improving border management, policing and guarding the borders.
• The BIM scheme will help in the creation of infrastructure such as construction of border fence, border flood lights, technological solutions, border roads and Border Outposts (BOPs)/Company Operating Bases (COBs) to secure the Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-China, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders.

Border Infrastructure and Management BIM: Importance of border infrastructure

• Resilience against security challenges: Border infrastructure helps in dealing with transnational issues like cross-border terrorism, infiltration of armed militants and insurgents, narcotics and arms smuggling; illegal migration; left-wing extremism and separatist movements fuelled by external powers.
• Better trade relations: Robust border infrastructure helps in building ties with the neighbouring countries. Example: Border Haats with Bangladesh.
• Inclusive growth: Border road infrastructure plays a significant role in the overall development of the region, especially in harsh terrains such as northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Unravel tourism: Proper road infrastructure would help in promoting tourism in the lofty Himalayas.
• Maintaining peace and stability: Border road infrastructure helps in maintaining peace and stability in the border areas.
• Disaster management: Better border infrastructure in the difficult and harsh terrains of Indian borders will make the country prepared and self-sufficient to handle the wide range of disasters.

Border Infrastructure and Management: Government steps to improve border infrastructure

• In 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), under the aegis of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, to provide border infrastructure including roads, bridges, highways, airports, tunnels, and buildings.
• Government launched a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) to improve the capability of Border Security Force in detecting and controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human trafficking and cross border terrorism etc.
• Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to adopt a comprehensive approach to border management.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana: One of the objective of the scheme is to better border road infrastructure that would ensure greater maneuverability, while also boosting trade with neighbouring countries.

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