India has a land border of over 15,000 km, which it shares with seven countries. Further, it has a coastline of over 7,500 km. These long porous borders are not only under dispute but also for the most part located in highly challenging terrain making border security an uphill task before security forces of India. Robust border management is vital for national security due to various borders disputes and cross border terrorist infiltrations. However, it is not possible to erect border fences along the length of the border owing to its length and complex terrain. Hence the government is increasingly focusing on smart border management using technological solutions.

BOLD-QIT project (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique)

Due to the changing nature of threat patterns and human limitations in manually manning the border, India is experimenting and deploying many technological solutions. One such solution is the BOLD-QIT project to guard its border with Bangladesh in Dhubri district of Assam.

1. The project BOLD-QIT comes under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system) on the international borders.
2. It is a project to install technical systems which enables the BSF to equip the border with various kinds of sensors in the unfenced riverine area of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
3. The entire span of Brahmaputra has been covered with data networks generated by microwave communication, OFC cables, DMR communication, day and night surveillance cameras and intrusion detection system.

Effectiveness Of BOLD-QIT Project In Border Management

1. The entire stretch of the 61 km border in Dhubri has been brought under technological surveillance.
2. The modern gadgets along the border provide feeds to BSF control rooms on the border and enable the BSF quick reaction teams (QRTs) to thwart any possible infiltration or crimes.
3. There are alarm systems and whenever there is an intrusion, a QRT of the BSF will rush to the place.
4. The initiative will curb cross-border crimes and give respite to the BSF from round-the-clock human surveillance.
5. It will help to keep a check on illegal immigration and smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs and cattle and such other crimes that thrives in Dhubri sector of the international border, a porous riverine section of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
6. Smart and effective border management will help in improving intelligence and surveillance, capable of providing day and night all-terrain and all-weather inputs.

The BOLD-QIT project is a step towards a larger strategy of CIBMS. CIBMS is a robust and integrated system that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment. We must also address the issues such as erratic power supply technical glitches, etc for optimal utilisation of technology for effective security management along all the international borders.