New Delhi: More than 39,000 projects have been approved under the Border Area Development Programme, which is in its ‘sunset phase’, since FY 2004-05 in the bordering states and UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, said these projects include the construction of roads, FSB, bridges and culverts, residential quarters for doctors, paramedics and other health officials, additional rooms in health centres, additional classrooms, Anganwadi centres, hostels, dormitories in schools, and livelihood projects.
The minister said the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is implemented in villages/towns situated within 0-10 km (‘crow fly’ aerial distance) from the first habitation at the International Border (IB) in 16 states and two Union territories.
“Presently, the BADP is in its sunset phase,” Rai said.
The main objective of the programme is to meet the special development needs and well-being of people living in the coverage area and to provide essential infrastructure related to health, education, road, agriculture, sports, drinking water and sanitation, social sector, small-scale industries, etc., by converging BADP and central/state/UT/local schemes.
“Since the financial year 2004-05, 39,248 works/projects have been approved under the BADP in the bordering states/UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the last three years, Rs 168.90 crore was released towards committed liability to the eligible states/UTs covered under the programme,” he said.
The Centre approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I) on February 15, 2023, for the comprehensive development of 662 select villages in blocks abutting the Northern border in four states and one UT, Rai said.
“The government also approved the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) on April 2, 2025, for the comprehensive development of 1,954 select villages located in the blocks abutting the International Land Borders (ILBs) other than the Northern border, including the India-Pakistan border in 15 states and two UTs till FY 2028-29,” he added.
