NEW DELHI: With Pakistan often violating the ceasefire along the Indo-Pakistan border and with locals often caught in the crossfire, the government will construct bunkers along the International Border so that civilians can seek protection during the firing.

The government informed Parliament on Tuesday that “a pilot project for construction of 60 bunkers, with a cost of Rs 5 lakh each (total Rs 3 crore) has been approved along IB for safeguards of civilians during cross border firings.”

As many as 677 cases of cross-border firing by Pakistan were reported from May 2014 to October 2015 in Jammu and Kashmir in which 27 civilians had lost their lives while 19 BSF jawans were also killed.

India has raised the issue of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Rangers at several platforms – PM’s meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, NSA-level talks and DG-level talks between Border Security Force and Pak Rangers.

However, sources in MHA said that cross-border firing remains a problem and it leads to a lot of damage to lives and property.

India has been aggressively responding to the ceasefire violations.

The government also informed the Lok Sabha that an underground tunnel was discovered by troops deployed in general area Chakla of Palanwala sector (Jammu district) on August 21 last year, approximately 300 meters on Indian side of Line of Control (LoC). “Thereafter, the concerned agency has been asked to carry out assessment/detailed analysis of the tunnel and suggest measures to detect such tunnels in the future,” Union minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju informed while replying to a question.

The government also said that 176 coastal police stations are operational in different parts of the country and concrete measures are being taken to strengthen coastal security, to prevent any future 26/11 style attacks through the sea route.

When BJP MP Satyapal Singh pointed out that it is difficult to differentiate between Indian and Pakistani boats in the sea, the minister said that government has decided to give smart cards to fishermen as well as to register their names.

The Lok Sabha was also informed that roads are being constructed and upgraded along the borders with Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and Nepal and government plans similar action along the Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar border as well.

Kiren Rijiju said construction and upgradation of roads of 4,379 km along Indo-Bangladesh border is already on. A similar project is also being implemented along the 689.95 km length of the Indo-Pakistan border. Construction and upgradation of roads is also going on in 3,796 km along Indo-China border and 1,377 km along Indo-Nepal border, the minister said during question hour.

Giving a break-up of funds allocated during the last three years (2012-13 to 2014-15) and current financial year, Rijiju said Rs 353 crore were spent on Indo-Bangladesh border, Rs 374.93 crore on Indo-Pakistan border, Rs 5,029.28 crore on India-China border, Rs 1,800 crore on Indo-Nepal border, Rs 150 crore on Indo-Bhutan border and Rs 11.11 crore on Indo-Myanmar border.

As on November 30, 2015, construction work has been completed on 3560.76 km roads along Indo-Bangladesh border, 397.76 km along Indo-Pakistan border, 2259.48 km along India-China border and 36.78 km along Indo-Nepal border, he said.