Manipur Home Minister reviews India-Myanmar border fencing, pushes for faster security work
Synopsis
Manipur's 398-km unfenced border with Myanmar — a known corridor for drug smuggling and militant movement — is under fresh scrutiny. Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh's review, backed by Governor-level and Centre-level meetings, signals an accelerating push to seal one of India's most strategically sensitive frontiers.
Key Takeaways
Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh reviewed India-Myanmar border fencing on 29 April 2025 in Imphal.
Five districts — Churachandpur , Tengnoupal , Chandel , Kamjong , and Ukhrul — share a 398-km unfenced border with Myanmar.
Fencing is being executed by Project Sewak of the Border Roads Task Force under the Border Roads Organisation , with intensified work near Moreh town .
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan had earlier held separate high-level reviews of the fencing progress.
143 border villages are to be developed under the Vibrant Villages Programme–II as part of a parallel development push.
Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, reviewed border security and the ongoing fencing work along the India-Myanmar border, calling for expedited progress on infrastructure and coordination among security agencies, officials said. The review meeting, held in Imphal, comes as five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar, a stretch long identified as a corridor for drug smuggling and cross-border militant movement.
Key Discussions at the Review Meeting
A senior Home Department official said discussions centred on strengthening border security, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and expediting developmental and infrastructure works in border areas. The Home Minister emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring peace, security, and overall development of Manipur through united efforts.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Ukhrul, Tengnoupal, Chandel, and Churachandpur districts, along with senior officials from the Manipur Home Department, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Border Roads Task Force, and the Assam Rifles.
Fencing Work and Project Sewak
The border fencing project is being undertaken by Project Sewak of the Border Roads Task Force, which also handles road construction in Nagaland and Manipur. The Border Roads Task Force functions under the Border Roads Organisation. According to officials, the BRO stepped up fencing work near Moreh town in Tengnoupal district last year, with work being carried out in phases.
High-Level Attention from the Centre
This is not the first high-level review of the fencing project. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had earlier reviewed the ongoing border-fencing work. The Governor and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan also held a high-level meeting to discuss the progress of fencing and the overall law and order situation in the state. The repeated reviews at multiple levels signal the Centre's heightened focus on sealing the porous border amid Manipur's prolonged internal security challenges.
Security Threats Along the Border
The 398-km stretch has been a persistent security concern, with smuggling of drugs and cross-border movement of militants and other inimical elements frequently reported along the porous and hilly terrain. Notably, the border's difficult geography has historically slowed fencing progress, making the current push to accelerate work all the more significant.
Vibrant Villages Programme and Border Development
On the development front, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had earlier announced that 143 villages along the state's international border with Myanmar will be developed under the Vibrant Villages Programme–II, with a focus on infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and essential services. The dual-track approach — security fencing alongside village development — reflects a broader strategy to stabilise border communities and reduce vulnerability to cross-border influence.
With multiple agencies now aligned and senior officials from both the state and Centre actively monitoring progress, the pace of fencing and border infrastructure work in Manipur is expected to accelerate in the coming months.
Point of View
Literally and figuratively, on Manipur's Myanmar border. A 398-km unfenced frontier in an active conflict zone is not just a security gap; it is a policy failure years in the making. Project Sewak's phased approach and the Vibrant Villages overlay are steps in the right direction, but the absence of a public timeline or measurable milestone targets raises questions about accountability. Border fencing without community buy-in and economic opportunity in the five affected districts risks becoming another infrastructure project that looks decisive on paper but stalls in execution.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the India-Myanmar border in Manipur still unfenced?
The 398-km stretch across five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — remains unfenced due to difficult hilly terrain and logistical challenges. Fencing work is being carried out in phases by Project Sewak of the Border Roads Task Force under the Border Roads Organisation.
What was discussed at Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh's border review meeting?
The meeting focused on strengthening border security, enhancing coordination among agencies including the Assam Rifles and BRO, and expediting fencing and infrastructure works in border areas. Deputy Commissioners of four border districts attended alongside senior state and central officials.
What is Project Sewak and its role in Manipur border fencing?
Project Sewak is a Border Roads Task Force initiative responsible for the India-Myanmar border fencing project in Manipur. It operates under the Border Roads Organisation and also handles road construction in Nagaland and Manipur. Work near Moreh town in Tengnoupal district was stepped up last year.
What security threats exist along the Manipur-Myanmar border?
The porous and hilly border has been a corridor for drug smuggling and cross-border movement of militants and other inimical elements, according to officials. The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has further heightened concerns about cross-border infiltration.
What is the Vibrant Villages Programme–II in Manipur?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced that 143 villages along Manipur's international border with Myanmar will be developed under Vibrant Villages Programme–II, focusing on infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and essential services to stabilise border communities.
