New Delhi:
Aimed at strengthening security along frontiers, government has finalised a blueprint to construct 255 outposts on the country's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
As per the decision, there will be 129 border outposts (BOPs) along the Indo-Bangla border and 126 BOPs along the Indo-Pak border by the CPWD.
"The design of the BOP is being finalised and it is estimated to cost about Rs four crore to construct one BOP," said a senior CPWD official.
There will be barracks, generator room, kitchen, toilet block and officers' chamber at the BOP.
The construction work will begin where land is available, the official said adding, "It is the district administration's responsibility to acquire the land for the purpose."
Border outposts are manned by central paramilitary forces to check smuggling, infiltration and other illegal cross-border activities.
The Indo-Bangladesh border covers a total 4,095 km. Of this, West Bengal has a border length of 2,216 km, Tripura 856 km, Meghalaya 443 km, Mizoram 318 km and Assam 262 km.
As the entire Indo-Bangladesh border has been prone to large-scale illegal immigration and infiltration from Bangladesh, the BOPs are crucial to prevent it.
Besides the construction of BOPs, border fencing and lighting at these places are also being carried out by the CPWD.