Govt reviews infrastructure projects along China border

In wake of the recent stand-off, Centre plans to review ongoing projects along Sino-Indian border

The Centre reviewed the progress of ongoing roads and other infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh in the wake of recent stand-off with China, a home ministry official said.

Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, General (retd) V K Singh and Army chief General Bipin Rawat and senior officials reviewed the ongoing projects along the Sino-Indian border.

"We have discussed the roads and other infrastructure along the border," Gen Rawat told reporters after the hour-long meeting.

Arunachal Pradesh shares 1,126 km border with China of the total 3,488 km long Sino-Indian border.

To redress the situation arising out of lack of infrastructure along the border with China, the central government has decided to undertake construction of 73 roads of operational significance along the forward areas.

Out of these 73 roads, 27 roads involving 804.93 km length are being constructed by Ministry of Home Affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 1,937 crore, a home ministry official said.

The work of construction of these 27 roads has been assigned to the Border Roads Organisation (15 roads), Central Public Works Department besides others.

Out of 27 roads, eight roads have been completed. Two roads are maintained by the Ministry of Defence. Construction work of other roads is in progress. As on April 30, 2017, 672.46 km of formation work and 409.53 km of surfacing work has been completed.

On August 28, India and China ended more than two month long stand-off in Dokalam which started after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area.