Following Army’s objections to the 1,500-km proposed highway along the China border in Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry for Road, Transport & Highways Shipping has proposed soil stabilization instead of constructing concrete roads in remote areas which are suffering due to poor connectivity.
Admitting that there have been bottlenecks in the implementation of road-construction projects in Arunachal due to its proximity to China, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “I have recommended that instead of constructing a concrete road, atleast a temporary road (soil stabilization) should be made in the remote areas in Arunachal which are affected due to poor connectivity.” Notably, a 1,500-km proposed highway along the China border in Arunachal Pradesh connecting remote areas of the hill state has hit a roadblock with Army raising objections fearing that it could be a strategic blunder due to its proximity to China in case of a confrontation. The project is said to cost anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 crore.