BSF taps DRDO for tech to monitor Bangla border stretch in Sundarbans

Indian Express

03-06-2025

Amid the Centre's crackdown on illegal immigration and cross-border terror networks, the Border Security Force (BSF) has sought the help of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for deployment of advanced surveillance systems — including drones, radars and satellites — along a critical 113-km stretch of the Sundarbans on the India-Bangladesh border.
The request was made during a high-level coastal security review meeting chaired by the Secretary (Border Management) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in North Block in the second week of May, shortly after Operation Sindoor.
The focused move to identify and push back illegal Bangladeshi immigrants within 30 days of detention began after the Pahalgam attacks in April, and has gained momentum since Operation Sindoor.
As part of this crackdown, the BSF has stepped up vigilance along the border and is now looking to rely more heavily on high-end surveillance technologies — including drones, radars, satellite imagery and CCTVs — to plug gaps in sensitive areas, especially the Sundarbans, which has long been a known route for illegal crossings.
'The BSF has proposed to bring nearly 113 kms under tech surveillance,' said an MHA official. 'They've already conducted a feasibility study, in consultation with ISRO and DRDO, and have asked DRDO to carry out field visits to identify the most effective solutions. However, DRDO is expected to take up the Sundarbans site only after it completes its current work on a similar project in Gujarat's creek areas.'
The BSF currently monitors about 123 kms of the Sunderbans sector, much of it difficult terrain dotted with creeks and dense mangrove forests.
The demand for a technology-first approach has grown following intelligence inputs that terror outfits are exploring India's riverine and maritime borders — especially through the Sundarbans — to infiltrate. The area, spread across remote islands and crisscrossed by tidal waterways, poses unique challenges for conventional patrolling.
At present, the BSF relies on eight floating Border Outposts (BOPs) and 96 other patrol vessels to maintain vigilance. It has also approached the West Bengal government for land to construct seven observation towers and to allow more forest post co-locations — a model where BSF personnel share infrastructure with forest officials. Three such co-located posts already exist.
However, the MHA official said progress has been uneven. 'Despite repeated surveys, officials from the Forest and State Revenue departments did not participate, which has stalled the process,' the official said.
At the meeting last month, which was also attended by BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary, West Bengal government representatives are learnt to have said that they had surveyed seven sites and agreed to provide land at two. 'The co-location of three more BSF posts is still awaiting clearance from the Forest Department. Both sides were directed to explore alternate sites if needed and to jointly assess feasibility at each location,' the official said.
The Sundarbans push comes amid growing concerns within the security establishment that a porous eastern frontier — unless sealed with urgency — could undermine efforts to curb both illegal immigration and terror infiltration. As part of its wider border strategy, the Centre has already deployed additional forces, stepped up deportation efforts, and expanded intelligence coordination across agencies.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More