Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Power have been selected to develop areas on the border with Pakistan as part of a pilot project of the Defence Ministry for a total cost of ₹20,000 crore.

These companies were selected by the BSF during a meeting on February 2, based on their performance during the technical trials, sources told BusinessLine .

Under the project, the Defence Ministry plans to deploy long-range radars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sensors and CCTVs among others that will enable the BSF to guard the international borders more efficiently that are located in difficult terrain, sources said.

There were 10 bidders out of which seven were selected and were asked to undergo field trials that was held last year at the BSF Academy in Gwalior. While 70 per cent weightage was given for the quality of technical solution, 30 per cent weightage was for commercial proposal.

According to sources, both Reliance Infra and Tata Power will be developing developing a stretch of five km of a village in Jammu and Kashmir located near the border with Pakistan at a cost of ₹6 crore per km. as part of the pilot project.

“This project is being used as a technology demonstrator by the BSF to evaluate efficacy of different sensors to meet Indian requirements. In other words, the basic idea is to ascertain how these strategic border areas can be deployed with the most technologically advanced products,” said an official, involved in the project, requesting anonymity.

The pilot project includes cost of deployment of high-tech sensors, including radars and drones, along the borders, the cost of which will be borne by the firms, sources said.

Both Reliance Infra and Tata Power have joined hands with foreign partners for the pilot project and both will be sourcing the products such as the long-range radars, sensors and the UAVs from foreign vendors, according to industry sources.

The companies have to complete the project within a year from the time the contract will be awarded.

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