Chennai, Sep 25 Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Friday inaugurated new facilities for BSF personnel at its Keerapakkam camp near here, saying they would improve their working and living conditions.
The facilities, established at a cost of Rs 30.97 crore, will provide personnel with improved spaces to work, live and rest, he said.
“The BSF stands at the forefront of Bharat’s security. Our jawans guard the borders day and night. Since the Chennai Sector was formed in 2014, they have also stood firm in the fight against Naxalism and anti-national forces. The peace and development we see in Malkangiri today have been made possible by their courage and vigilance,” the minister said in a post on X.
A jawan returning from duty should have the facilities needed to rest and return with renewed strength, he said, adding that the Chennai Sector would also help BSF personnel serving in South India and their families access welfare support, medical services and educational facilities.
Earlier, addressing BSF personnel at the Keerapakkam camp, Kumar emphasised that operational readiness, discipline and high morale were directly linked to the well-being of forces serving under demanding conditions.
“Infrastructure is an investment in human dignity and operational excellence. Providing state-of-the-art living spaces and clean, nutritious dining facilities ensures our personnel can focus on their duties with peace of mind,” he said.
He said the new complex was designed to help jawans rejuvenate mentally and physically after duty, enabling them to discharge their responsibilities with high morale.
The Chennai Sector Headquarters, established in 2014, serves as an administrative base for the BSF. Its Tactical Regional Headquarters is currently deployed in Malkangiri, Odisha, for anti-Naxal operations, while its rear headquarters operates from Chennai.
The newly inaugurated residential complex for the BSF Regional Headquarters in Chennai comprises an administrative building, officers’ mess, subordinate officers’ mess, residences and living quarters for jawans.
The facilities are located at the BSF camp in Keerapakkam village in neighbouring Chengalpattu district and come under the Chennai Sector Headquarters.
The 24-acre campus, with about eight acres of built-up area, houses administrative offices and a centralised canteen facility and serves as a key BSF base in the Chennai region.
Highlighting the BSF’s role as the nation’s first line of defence, Kumar praised the courage and vigilance of personnel stationed in the region.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government remained committed to the safety, security and welfare of security personnel.
The new facility will also provide administrative support, medical benefits, welfare services and educational facilities to BSF personnel and their families stationed across South India, he said.
Commending the officers, jawans, engineers and construction agency involved in executing the project, Kumar said the dedication and patriotism of the force continued to inspire the nation.
“Since its establishment in 2014, the Chennai Sector has been an important pillar of our defence line against Naxals and anti-national elements. The courage and vigilance displayed by this sector truly reflect your ideal of lifelong commitment to duty,” he said.
The minister said the modern quarters were not merely buildings but a symbol of respect for personnel who remained vigilant despite adverse conditions and numerous challenges.
“In this new complex, facilities have been ensured for the rest, hygiene and daily needs of the jawans. Our goal is that after duty, our jawans get an environment where they can rejuvenate mentally and physically, enabling them to fulfil their duties with even greater enthusiasm, dedication and high morale,” he said.
The Chennai Sector would enable BSF personnel stationed across South India, along with their families and children, to access various welfare services, administrative support, medical benefits and educational facilities, he said.
Additional Director General of BSF Command Headquarters (Special Operations), Raipur, Tsewang Namgyal, Inspector General of BSF, Odisha, C H Sethuram, Deputy Inspector General, SHQ BSF Chennai, Vijay Sinha, and senior CPWD officials participated in the event.
On his arrival at the BSF camp, the Union minister was accorded a Guard of Honour. He later planted a sapling as part of a greening campaign.
Officials briefed Kumar about the modern buildings constructed on the sprawling 24-acre campus, which has about eight acres of built-up area, for BSF officers and jawans.
(PTI News)
