The West Bengal government approved the transfer of 600 acres [1] of land to the Border Security Force to accelerate fencing along the Bangladesh border.
This move aims to strengthen national security by closing gaps in the porous boundary. By completing the fencing, the government intends to increase surveillance and resolve the long-standing issue of illegal infiltration into India.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) said the decision followed a cabinet meeting on Monday. The land transfer will span nine border districts along the India-Bangladesh boundary [2].
"In our very first Cabinet meeting today, we decided to transfer the land to the BSF," Adhikari said. "The process begins today and will be completed within 45 days [3]. Once done, BSF will complete border fencing and the issue of illegal infiltration will be resolved soon."
The 45-day timeline for the transfer process [3] follows a legal mandate from the Calcutta High Court. A previous court order had set a deadline of March 31 for the handover of the land to the federal forces [4].
The BSF will use the acquired land to install physical barriers, and electronic surveillance equipment. This infrastructure is intended to prevent unauthorized crossings and smuggling activities that frequently occur in the dense terrain of the nine affected districts [2].
“The process begins today and will be completed within 45 days.”
The transfer of land represents a coordination between the state government and federal security forces to secure a volatile international boundary. By adhering to the court-mandated handover and providing 600 acres of territory, the state is removing administrative hurdles that previously slowed the BSF's ability to create a continuous physical barrier against illegal migration.
