In view of China ramping up its infrastructure, including roads and rail network near the Line of Actual Control(LAC), the Government on Monday assured the Rajya Sabha that required measures were undertaken to improve border infrastructure.
Making this assertion, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said 73 critical roads have been designated as Indo-China Border Roads of 4,203 kilometers length and are being accorded highest priority with dedicated funding.
Further, to ensure all weather connectivity to far flung areas, construction of tunnels has also been undertaken across passes. Currently, construction of four tunnels is underway, he said in a written reply.
Infrastructure development in Uttarakhand is being holistically executed with budgetary support from the Ministry of Defence, Home Ministry, State Public Works Department(PWD) and Central projects like Bharatmala and Chardham. As on date, 21 roads with a length of approximately 800 kilometers are being constructed and upgraded by the Border Roads Organisation(BRO)over and above certain roads being constructed by State PWD.
He said the Government is fully seized of the security needs of the country and reviews the same from time to time. Required measures including development of infrastructure like construction of roads, tunnels and strategic railway lines are taken to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India.
As per the operational requirement of Armed Forces and the need for development along border areas, road construction is taken up by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
His assurance comes in the backdrop of the ongoing stand-offs at three friction points between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh for the last more than one year.
China has vastly improved its road and rail network in the Tibetan plateau all along the 4,000 km long LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
It has a high speed rail network to ensure all-weather logistical back-up for its troops guarding the LAC.
Similarly, it has developed a network of road and rail of more than 10,000 km in the Tibet region.