Chandigarh, November 6: Punjab has become the first state in the country to install a comprehensive anti-drone security system along its 553-kilometre-long international border, the state government said on Thursday.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said nine anti-drone systems have been procured and deployed in border districts at a cost of ₹51.4 crore. Each system can detect drones flying within a 10-kilometre radius and trace the operator’s location. “This initiative will act as a technological shield against cross-border smuggling and infiltration,” Mann said.
The project is part of what the state government has termed a “second line of defense” against th
e flow of drugs, weapons, and other contraband from across the border. Officials said the systems are being integrated with police control rooms for coordinated response.
The government has also nearly completed the installation of 3,000 AI-enabled CCTV cameras in the border belt, with 2,300 already functional. The cameras provide real-time monitoring and alert capabilities. A ₹20 crore allocation was made for this project, according to official data.
Mann said that enhanced surveillance and coordination have helped curb drone-based smuggling incidents. “Thousands of eyes are now monitoring every movement on Punjab’s borders,” he said.
The government has earmarked ₹110 crore this year to strengthen border security, prioritising anti-drone technology, AI camera networks, Home Guard deployment, and checkpoint infrastructure.
