19 strategic roads, 29 buildings to come up on Chinese front in Arunachal, Sikkim

New Delhi, November 19

India will go ahead with the construction of much-required strategic roads and permanent integrated buildings along the Indo-China border in Arunanchal Pradesh and Sikkim as part of a critical infrastructure project worth Rs 25,000 crore.

The crucial decision, approved by the High-Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is slated to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) shortly, along with other border-related projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

The decision to fast-track the construction of roads and other critical infrastructure on the Chinese border assumes significance as it is happening at a time when India is looking to fend off the dragon’s threat on its north-eastern border.

The final blueprint envisages construction of 19 roads, 29 permanent integrated buildings and other critical infrastructure along the Indo-China border in Arunachal and Sikkim.

The critical infrastructure will come up in a mountainous and rugged terrain, a challenging task for the executing agency. The job also involves construction of two-metre wide roads, sources in the government said.

Some issues involving forest and wildlife clearance and land acquisition have been resolved now and project will soon be executed at a faster pace, the sources added.

Besides, the executing agency will also take up fencing and road construction work along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

There will also be 18 coastal border outposts in Gujarat to strengthen the vigil along the coastline. — IANS