Reality check on Indo-Myanmar border fencing

GUWAHATI: Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviewed the progress of the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing work. Five districts of Manipur - Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong and Ukhrul - share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar.

The chief secretary, security advisor, director general of police (DGP), additional chief secretary, commissioner (home), officers of the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) and Assam Rifles attended the meeting. Officials from Churachandpur, Chandel Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul districts also joined the meeting virtually.

Commanding Officer, 25 BRTF, made a detailed presentation on the progress of the fencing works.


A source said, "BRO has commenced fencing work along the India-Myanmar border in the general area of Moreh in Tengnoupal district. The work is undertaken by Project Sewak." The source informed that only 10 km of international border with Myanmar is fenced near Moreh in Manipur.

The 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border will be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore, and passes through Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The free movement regime with Myanmar was scrapped in 2024. FMR allowed people residing close to the border to venture 16 km into each other's territory without a visa.

According to new rules, the movement of people is now limited to 43 designated crossing points and is granted to those who hold border passes issued by Assam Rifles. Of these, nine are in Nagaland.

Manipur chief minister Y Khemchand Singh had earlier said that 143 villages along the state's international border with Myanmar will be developed under the Vibrant Villages Programme II, with focus on infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and essential services.