Survey of India team to help BRO finalise border alignment
In spite of objections raised by various civil society organisations (CSOs), the Centre has stepped up work on fencing the Manipur sector of Indo-Myanmar border.
New Delhi has also deployed a team of Survey of India (SoI) to help Border Road Organisation (BRO) in finalising the border alignment so as to avoid hindering the fencing work due to lack of subsidiary pillars, according to official documents accessed by this correspondent.
The Centre is proceeding with plans to fence the entire 1,643-km border with Myanmar, including the Manipur sector, as part of a broader strategy to enhance border security and manage the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
This initiative involves constructing a fence and implementing a surveillance system, with pilot projects already underway.
The decision to fence the border comes after the scrapping of the FMR, which previously allowed for relatively free movement across the border.
In 2024, the Centre approved Rs 30,000 crore for the construction of border fence along the Myanmar border. The BRO is currently engaged in the construction of fencing along the 398-km stretch of the Manipur sector of the international border.
The central government considered this section of the border important due to its porous nature, historical ethnic ties, and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, which has led to increased security concerns and the influx of refugees into Manipur.
It is believed that due to this the Centre went ahead with the construction of the fencing despite stiff oppositions from Naga and Kuki bodies, who are objecting to the fencing on the ground that it would disrupt ethnic and familial ties of people living on both sides of the border
The Centre initiated the ground-level demarcation of the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur through the deployment of a SOI team.
A letter from the Manipur’s Home Department to the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Chandel, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Kamjong districts bordering Myanmar on June 11 informed them about the deployment of the SOI team for Indo-Myanmar boundary work in Manipur.
In the letter, the DCs were asked to take necessary action to facilitate the field deployment of the SOI team.
The deployment of the SOI team came up after a series of high-level meetings convened by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in response to official communications from the BRO regarding the fencing construction related works.
A meeting convened under the chairmanship of joint secretary (border management), MHA on May 14 this year reviewed the progress of fencing and road works, link roads to company operating bases (COBs) of Assam Rifles and entry/exit points on Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.
The meeting deliberated on the fencing along the demarcated/un-disputed stretches along the border (especially from BP-81 to 85) where the work was hindered due to differing perceptions of locals on either side of the border or due to the lack of subsidiary pillars.
After a thorough deliberation, the meeting decided that the SOI nominate a field team to help the BRO in finalising the alignment. This team could consist of representatives from the Assam Rifles, BRO and the Manipur government, along with SOI. Another round of meeting convened by the MHA on May 27 and attended by MHA and SOI decided to carry out the demarcation of the border.
The meeting decided to give priority to stretches where demarcation of the border alignment required to be fixed on ground physically by the SOI.
The agency was directed to fix alignment physically on the ground in coordination with the BRO and state authorities the stretches of the border pillars (BPs) from 70 to 79 (26 km) in Tengnoupal district, from 65 to 67 (5.41 km) in Chandel district, from 81 to 85 (14.90 km) in Tengnoupal, from 61 to 65 (15.14 km) and 67 to 70 (11 km) in Chandel district, and 43 to 47 (27.94 km) in Churachandpur district.
On June 2, the director of SOI (Shillong) informed the Manipur government about the deployment of a field team led by senior surveyor Supriyo Das.
The team was scheduled to begin fieldwork on June 5, with another team expected to join soon. The director requested necessary logistical and administrative support from the state government to ensure smooth execution of the survey.
This includes the provision of security, accommodation, jungle clearance, and additional manpower where required, particularly in unsettled or sensitive areas along the border.
The Home Department of Manipur in a letter dated June 11, 2025 directed senior officials, including the director general of police (DGP), senior officers of Assam Rifles, DCs and superintendents of police (SPs) of the districts concerned to take all necessary steps to support the SOI team in the field.
It was noted that the lack of subsidiary pillars had created hurdles in clearly demarcating disputed or sensitive stretches of the international boundary.
Official sources said the current initiative was aimed at resolving ambiguities in border alignment and establishing a clear, on-ground demarcation to facilitate infrastructure and security operations.
The alignment was being carried out jointly by central agencies and the Manipur government to ensure that the exercise was conducted in a coordinated and secure manner, the sources claimed.