Budget of strengthening Indo-Pak border infra tripled: MHA

The Centre has increased the budget for road construction and fencing on Indo-Pak border by nearly 300 per cent, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"Along Indo-Pakistan border, the government has approved revision of cost estimates in fencing, floodlighting, roads and Border Outposts works from the earlier sanctioned Rs 380 crore to Rs 1,201 crore," Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said in a written reply.

The Minister said 1,915 km of fencing and 1,861 km of floodlighting works have been completed on the Indo-Pakistan border out of 2,043 km of fencing and 2,009 km of floodlighting sanctioned by the government.

"Out of 340 km of border roads sanctioned by the government in Gujarat sector on the Indo-Pakistan border, the construction works of 219 km of border roads have been completed," he said.

The strengthening of infrastructure on the India- Bangladesh border is also on the anvil with nearly 150 per cent hike in the budget to improve fencing, floodlights and roads.

"The government has approved the revision of targets of fencing and road works along India-Bangladesh border from earlier sanctioned works of 2,429 km for fencing and 797 km of roads to 2,579 km and 1,422 km respectively under phase-2," he said.