Kolkata clears land for 110km BSF border fence with Bangladesh
Kolkata clears land for 110km BSF border fence with Bangladesh
West Bengal approves land transfer to the BSF for fencing nearly 110 km along the Indo-Bangladesh border, ending a decade-long delay and boosting security.
West Bengal's cabinet, led by Suvendu Adhikari, approved handing over land to the Border Security Force for border fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh frontier, ending a decade-long stalemate in Kolkata bureaucracy. The decision is seen as a major step toward completing about 110 km of fencing across nine border districts, a project long stalled by procedural delays in land transfer. The cabinet's approval paves the way for the BSF to physically start fencing these stretches in the coming weeks.
The largest pending sectors are around 41.9 km in Cooch Behar, 31.8 km in Malda, 21.5 km in North 24 Parganas and 14.5 km in Dakshin Dinajpur, with other districts making up the remainder. Officials say delays were caused by the state government's administrative handover, with some stretches remaining with the state despite the BSF's plans to proceed. This land transfer is expected to clear the path for fencing work to begin in earnest across the nine districts.
Adhikari announced that the land transfer should be completed within 45 days, after informal discussions and reminders from the BSF Eastern Command and the Union government. This marks a shift from earlier inertia, as security officials indicated that delays in land handover had hampered fencing and, in some views, inadvertently aided criminals. The move is framed as a proactive step to strengthen border security and curb cross-border illegal activity.
Historically, the land transfer had progressed slowly under the previous government, with about 2 km handed over in the last three years and more than 31 km still pending. Once the land is formally transferred, the BSF aims to advance fencing work across the identified stretches, a development officials say will enhance security and surveillance along the frontier. While this step is welcomed by security agencies, concerns about land compensation, environmental impact, and local displacement are expected to be raised by stakeholders and residents near the border.
The cabinet's decision is a clear signal that border security priorities are being prioritized, and officials say they will keep the public updated on the fencing timeline and progress as the 45-day transfer window closes.
