Kutch’s Sir Creek area to get 5 new border posts, jetties, support infra under Rs 432-crore project

Kutch: A major Rs 432.09-crore project is set to strengthen security infrastructure along the India-Pakistan border in Kutch. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has floated a mega tender to develop five Border Out Posts (BOPs) and supporting infrastructure in the strategically sensitive Sir Creek region.

The five BOPs will come up at Ramesh Channel, Ishwar Channel, Devendra Channel, Vikram Channel and Dafa-II. Each post will have an administrative block, barracks, kitchen, garage, wireless room, magazine block, sentry post, bunkers and a G+2 observation tower. Each BOP will have a built-up area of 1,209.12 square metres.

The project will also include five jetties, each with an associated room and water storage facilities, along with around 11 km of connecting roads linking the BOPs with their respective jetties. Ramesh Channel will have the longest road stretch at 4.8 km, followed by Devendra Channel at 2.1 km, Ishwar Channel at 2 km, Vikram Channel at 1.5 km and Dafa-II at 600 metres.

The project, slated to be completed in 32 months after the tender process, will be executed on a design-and-build Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) turnkey basis. It is aimed at creating fully operational infrastructure for the Border Security Force (BSF) in the difficult creek and island terrain.

Unlike a conventional land border, Kutch’s creek region requires security forces to operate across both land and water. Difficult terrain, mud, salinity, high tides and constantly changing waterways make the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment challenging.

The proposed jetties will facilitate water-based movement, while dredging will help keep the waterways suitable for operational use. Approach roads and culverts will improve connectivity between the BOPs and jetties, while the observation towers will provide elevated surveillance positions.

The remote sites will also require independent water and power arrangements, as there is no existing construction water or electricity supply. The infrastructure plan includes 50,000-litre water storage tanks at BOP and jetty locations, a 1,000-litre-per-hour desalination plant, a 500-litre-per-day atmospheric water generation plant and 250-litre-per-hour RO water purifiers.

The project builds on earlier infrastructure development in the region. In 2023, the foundation stone was laid for the Rs 257-crore Koteshwar mooring place project, while the 28-km Chidiyamod-BR Bet Link Road and an observation tower at Harami Nala were inaugurated. In 2026, the G-7 and G-13 border posts were also inaugurated.

The project is expected to mark a shift from isolated border posts to an integrated and self-sufficient network of roads, waterways, surveillance infrastructure, utilities and operational facilities for security forces working in one of the country’s most challenging border environments. DeshGujarat