India to fence 1,610 km border with Myanmar

India will fence the country's 1,610-km border with coup-hit Myanmar within about a decade with an expenditure of nearly $3.7 billion.

The government earlier this year, citing national security, said that it would fence the border and end a decades-old visa-free movement policy with Myanmar for border citizens. 

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government also said that the porous border will be fenced to maintain the demographic structure of its northeastern region.

No government officials from either India or Myanmar have commented on the development.

Thousands of civilians and troops have fled from Myanmar to India since a military coup in the country in 2021. The risk of communal tensions due to this movement has got the Centre worried.