Centre sanctions Rs 370 crore to BSF, ITBP for construction of bunkers along India-Pakistan border

New Delhi: Laying emphasis on building infrastructure along the India-Pakistan and China-India borders, the government has sanctioned nearly Rs 370 crore to the BSF and the ITBP for construction of bunkers and special climate-controlled huts in forward areas, an official said on Wednesday.

A total of Rs 369.84 crore has been sanctioned by the home ministry for construction of infrastructure for Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the official told PTI.

The amount will be spent for construction of bunkers, fortifying border outposts of the BSF along the India-Pakistan border, construction of climate-controlled huts, procurement of snow scooter for the ITBP besides other necessary works of the two forces.

The BSF guards the 2,526.86-kilometres-long India-Pakistan border, including 237.2 kilometres of the Line of Control, and 4096.7 kilometres of the India-Bangladesh border.

The India-Pakistan border has been witnessing massive ceasefire violation from across the border since the beginning of 2017. At least four BSF personnel were killed in firing by Pakistan this month.

ITBP guards the 3,488-kilometres-long China-India border that runs through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The force is specially trained to operate in high altitude mountainous terrain.

ITBP outposts are of the height up to 18,750 feet where the temperature dips down minus 40 degree Celsius.