Indo-Bangla border to be fenced by March next year

The Indo-Bangla border fencing project is expected to be completed by March 2010, an official statement said today.     

The construction of the fencing has been delayed by problems like harsh topography and pending land acquisition cases, the statement quoting a home ministry report added.     

Human habitats within 150 yards of the border, need for realignment of fencing in certain stretches, objections raised by Bangladesh Rifles for constructing of fencing within 150 yards and limited working season were also said to be the causes for the delay in completion of the project.     

However, about 2,649.74 km of fencing has been completed so far out of a total length of 3,436.56 km. The project is now expected to be completed by March, 2010, it said.     

In addition, 3,326.82 km of border roads have been constructed out of sanctioned length of 4,326.24 km.

A total of 2,840 km along the Indo-Bangladesh border will be floodlighted at an estimated cost of Rs.1,327 crore and the project will be completed by 2011-2012.     

The work has been assigned to the CPWD, NBCC and NPCC.