Kolkata: In a move to tighten border security, the West Bengal government has transferred 142.79 acres of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for setting up outposts and barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the handover late Wednesday, calling it part of an intensified strategy to curb illegal immigration and strengthen surveillance.

The land transfer follows the BJP government's first cabinet decision on May 11, which pledged 600 acres within 45 days for fencing and related infrastructure. With this latest allocation spread across nine districts, the state has taken a significant step toward that target.

Adhikari shared a district-wise chart of the land handed over, underscoring the government's twin-pronged approach: accelerating fencing work and enforcing stricter administrative measures. West Bengal shares a 2,217 km border with Bangladesh, the longest among Indian states. While nearly 1,600 km is already fenced, close to 600 km remains vulnerable.