00:00 Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced a bold move by the Indian government to enhance
00:06 border security.
00:07 In a recent post on social media platform X, Shah conveyed government's decision to
00:13 construct a fence along the entire 1,643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border with the aim of bolstering
00:20 surveillance capabilities.
00:22 Shah emphasised the commitment of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to fortify
00:27 the nation's borders, stating, "It has decided to construct a fence along the entire
00:33 1,643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border to facilitate better surveillance.
00:37 A patrol track along the border will also be paved."
00:41 Already making strides in the endeavour, a 10-kilometre stretch in Manipur's More has
00:46 been successfully fenced.
00:47 Furthermore, two pilot projects utilising a hybrid surveillance system or HSS are currently
00:53 in progress, securing one kilometre each in Anunnachal Pradesh and Manipur.
00:58 Approval has also been granted for additional fencing covering approximately 20 kilometres
01:03 in Manipur, with construction set to commence soon.
01:06 Shah revealed that the government is taking steps to implement an advanced smart fencing
01:11 system for the entire India-Myanmar border.
01:14 The decision to end the Free Movement Regime or FMR along this border has been made and
01:20 the tendering process for the project is slated to begin.
01:23 The comprehensive fencing initiative is anticipated to conclude within the next four and a half
01:28 years, requiring all individuals to obtain a visa for border crossings.
01:33 This move follows Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's appeal last September to permanently
01:38 discontinue the FMR along the Indo-Myanmar border, citing concerns about illegal immigration.
01:45 Singh had also highlighted the state's efforts toward establishing a National Register of
01:49 Citizens or NRC and fortifying the border with Myanmar.
01:53 Currently only about 10 km of Manipur's 390 km porous border with Myanmar is fenced.
01:59 The Inner Myanmar border spans 1,643 km across the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and
02:05 Anunnachal Pradesh.
02:07 The Free Movement Regime, a bilateral agreement allowing tribes along the border to travel
02:11 up to 16 km within the neighbouring country without a visa, is set to be replaced by a
02:15 more secure and controlled border environment.
02:19 As the government takes these decisive steps, the nation looks towards a future which strengthens
02:23 border security and heightens surveillance capabilities along the Indo-Myanmar border.
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