Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System

The recent attacks at Uri and Pathankot by the infiltrators have reflected the porous borders of the country. In the wake of these attacks, the government has decided to replace the present border fencing with a new and effective ‘smart fencing’.  The existing fencing is known as Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS).

What is AIOS?

The present fence was constructed between 2003 and 2005. The Army also constructed an Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) in Kashmir Valley and Jammu Region in the year 2011, in close proximity of Line of Control to control cross border illegal activities including terrorism. Some of the important points include:

• The existing fence called the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) is located about 700m from the LoC. It is a double row fence consisting of concertina wire
• It includes border fence, electric live wires, sensors, sirens, foot patrols, floodlights, other surveillance devices including hand held thermal imagers. It also includes laser walls in some of the riverine gaps.
• During winters, terrorists shift their focus from the LoC to the IB, largely a plain area to infiltrate for staging attacks. The BSF is the first line of defence at the IB followed by a miniscule presence of troops from the Western Command and then comes the turn of border police and Village Defence Committees in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.
• The LoC in J&K is one of the most difficult terrains in the world that witnesses heavy snowfall and avalanches during winters and landslides, and floods during monsoons.
• The AIOS is not a foolproof system. Though it consists of 10 to 12 feet high and 6 to 7 feet wide mesh of concertina wire followed by flood lights, sensors, sirens, thermal imagers, minefields and foot patrols and drones for recee, it remains vulnerable.
• The AIOS, which costs Rs 8 crore per km, gets buried in winters under heavy snow and then it becomes easier for the infiltrators to walk over and enter India.
• The present fence has high rate of degradation due to snow and has to be repaired after every season which costs about Rs 50-60 crore every year. Also, the infiltrators are getting used to the fence and have devised ways to cross it.

What is smart fencing?

The Center has decided to replace the AIOS with smart fencing along the border.

Some key points:

• After the attack on the Pathankot air base last January, the Centre had decided to set up a comprehensive integrated border management system comprising CCTV cameras, thermal imagers and night-vision devices, surveillance radar, underground monitoring sensors and laser barriers to plug the India’s porous border. The proposal also includes enabling round the clock real-time surveillance.
• The smart fence stretching about 700 km will have enhanced surveillance features with sensors integrated and also has better survivability.
• The fence has already been tested and installed along a 50km stretch on a trial basis. The project would be implemented by the Army Corps of Engineers.
• The new fence would be erected in place of the existing one and is expected to cost around Rs1000 crore. Principle approval for the project has been given and has been assured on the allotment of required funds.

The project would be undertaken in phases. Under Phase-I, vulnerable areas and where most damage has occurred would be covered. Rest of the fence would be replaced in the second phase.