Better connectivity for BSF jawans in Rann of Kutch soon

GANDHINAGAR: BSF troops deployed in the far- flung stretches of the marshy Rann of Kutch area along the Indo-Pakistan border in Gujarat will soon have better communication links as new roads, a railway line and phone links are proposed to be established.

"Along the 400-kms of border in the Rann area, seven roads are coming up. A railway line is also proposed. There are plans to have 50 helipads where quick landing and take-off facilities will be made for force personnel," BSF Inspector General (Gujarat) Santosh Mehra told a group of visiting journalists at the forces' frontier headquarters here.

He said authorities have taken cognisance of difficulties faced by the jawans working in the inhospitable region and "things are moving at a fast pace" to provide the personnel, tasked with security of the marshy and saline frontier, with better connectivity and communication links.

"Things are moving at a very fast pace in the Rann area. We are seized of the issues and can assure that all that could be done is done fast," he said.

"The challenge is to ensure better connectivity in these areas and that is a priority for us. We are developing underground cabling systems. Money has been sanctioned by the government for all these border outposts including floating posts (along the disputed waters) so that they can have a higher level of connectivity.

"This is in addition to satellite phones that we have in the posts in the Rann area along the Indo-Pakistan border," the IG said.

"We have also requested, including through the Union Home Ministry, BSNL to aggressively carry out feasibility studies in all border areas here to have greater plans, modern infrastructure by BSNL that is also going on...," he said.

Mehra said apart from BSNL increasing its reach in these areas, the force was looking at options to have underground cabling to install integrated technology-based surveillance systems.

Talking about welfare measures for the jawans, he said the border guarding force is also working on preparing some special guest houses which would be used for accommodating the families of the personnel for short durations.

"Guest houses are also being made... It is a work in progress. We are working towards having a 100 per cent satisfaction of work and facilities for our troops. Initially, we are trying to have such guest houses at company level (about 100 men) apart from the existing ones at sector level," he said, adding by having the families closer with the troops the force aims at reducing stress among its men.

The IG informed that special 'cool' rooms are being created at observation posts right on the border to ensure rest and recuperation for the jawans as they work under hard vagaries of temperature and inclement weather that often leads to problems like sun stroke.

"We have identified 60-65 border posts where our men have to face very difficult conditions particularly during summers in terms of sandstorms, breeze, high temperature... so out of these, in 7-8 places the 'cool' rooms with air conditioners are being established," the chief of the BSF in Gujarat added.