India pushes ahead with border infra development

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, October 28: The standoff with China in eastern Ladakh has sent India into a tearing hurry to complete the border infrastructure projects, which could help faster movement of the military personnel and the army hardware. Development of all-weather road connectivity in the border areas appears to have gained top priority of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

The Central government is executing a number of projects for connectivity boost to the border areas with China, Nepal and Pakistan. Some of the projects have seen completion which would enable movement of the people to places in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Leh and other strategic places in a short span of time.

On Friday, Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh inaugurated 75 projects in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which would further give a boost to the border connectivity. He was in Shyok village in Leh district of Ladakh. “The projects are of very vital importance for the troops as well as the civilians,” said a government official.

Seven bridges inaugurated in Udhampur-Kathua-Doda are Jantriya, Konyali-I, Konyali-II, Chenab Badi, Pakka Kotha, Challa Nallah and Benadi. The local MP and Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that Benadi bridge has been constructed in just 90 days by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which is a BRO record till date. He said that Pakka Kotha bridge, which is 181 metres long multi span bridge, has been built in 102 days. The BRO has started construction of Ramban bridge on accelerated pace and Brihon bridge has been sanctioned under DGBR’s emergent powers and soon work will start there, the Minister added.

He also stated that 200 bridges, including small puliyas, has been made in the last eight years of the Modi Government. The pace of completion of the projects has gained speed following violent skirmish with the Chinese army in Galwan in eastern Ladakh. Armies of the two countries continue to be in a standoff position for over two years across the line of actual control.

Rajnath Singh also inaugurated the Hajibal-Z Gali-Machill road at Surkoli Kalaroose. The road is of a length of 33.96 km, constructed at a cost of Rs 83.66 crore by Border Roads Organization 109 RCC GREF, Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.

It may also be recalled that the Central government recently gave approval to two mega projects for connectivity of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with Nepal, which would also allow the hilly nation a faster connectivity to the Bay of Bengal.