Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China border

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

The government has kick-started the process of building four top-priority strategic railway lines along the China border — a project that had been stuck in deliberations for years for want of a political decision at the highest level.
The government has kick-started the process of building four top-priority strategic railway lines along the China border — a project that had been stuck in deliberations for years for want of a political decision at the highest level.

Last week, at a high-level meeting with officials from the Planning Commission, Defence, Railways and Finance ministries, the PMO finally asked the Railways to carry out detailed engineering survey of the 1,000-odd kilometres of lines identified by the Defence Ministry as strategically crucial. They are in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K.

The Railways has been given time till next month to come up with a cost of the detailed survey, which will be borne by the government (Defence/Finance). Sources said the cost of the engineering survey could be around Rs 200 crore.

The identified lines are Missamari-Tawang (378 km) in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; North Lakhimpur-Along-Silapathar (248 km) in Assam, Murkongselek-Pasighat-Tezu-Parashuram Kund-Rupai (256 km) in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; and Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh (498 km) in Himachal Pradesh-Jammu and Kashmir. The detailed engineering survey, kind of detailed project report, is the blueprint based on which work is commissioned.

The Railways has informed the PMO that the topography and the geology is such that most of the lines are in the fault and folds of the Himalayan range, which involves stupendous engineering challenges. This means boring railway tunnels through geologically treacherous terrain.

"We had quite a few geological surprises holding up the numerous tunnel works in the Kashmir line many years ago. From that experience, we are sure that these lines will also throw up such surprises. So the detailed engineering survey has to be thorough," said a Railway Board source.

The survey will take around two years to complete but sources in the Railways said given the priority attached to it, they might be asked to expedite as well. But a detailed engineering exercise like this cannot be needlessly rushed as well, officials said.

These four lines are part of the 14 strategically important lines of the armed forces to be used presumably for supplies for the Army and troops movement in times of need. The list was drawn up by the Services based on inputs from the operational commands and validated from an operational and logistics perspective. All these years, the government had been indecisive about who would fund the lines.

Railways had been telling the government that it would make the lines but cannot fund it because of financial difficulties and also citing the fact that the lines were not part of its operational needs. The matter had been stuck at that. Soon after coming to power, the new government has been holding meetings at the Cabinet Secretariat level to arrive at the decision on this. The lines are part of the government programme of building permanent transport infrastructure along the India China border.

Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China border | The Indian Express

 

[Bhadra]

Re: Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China bo

Railways had been telling the government that it would make the lines but cannot fund it because of financial difficulties and also citing the fact that the lines were not part of its operational needs. The matter had been stuck at that. Soon after coming to power, the new government has been holding meetings at the Cabinet Secretariat level to arrive at the decision on this. The lines are part of the government programme of building permanent transport infrastructure along the India China border.

[/QUOTE]

Firstly government should get down to working on these lines and publicise those when completed.

Secondly India Army should take upon themselves laying down and operating these tracks with their Corps of Engineers and BRO and leave aside the Railways. That is highly possible and feasible.

Many of these lines would be profitable to the Army such as :

Jaisalmer Line
Twang Line
Leh line
Pasighat Line
Rudrprayag Line

It will also result in reduction of logistics budget of the Indian Army.

Jaisalmer line can be funded by the many oil and Gas companies operating in that area. They will be happy to do that.

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Re: Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China bo

Firstly government should get down to working on these lines and publicise those when completed.

unfortunately Its not going to happen bhadra irrespective of what ever the govt in center

 

[Bhadra]

Re: Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China bo

They have been shouting from rooftop about border infrastructure since last 20 years but doing nothing..

On the contrary- inviting Chinese warnings ..

Did Chinese publicised what they did in Tibet ..

World only knew about it..

 

[Srinivas_K]

Re: Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China bo

Nice initiative, we need quick response corps who can fight in hilly terrain and pierce through Defense lines of China. Tibet is a vulnerable part for China.

 

[RAM]

Re: Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China bo

Hi-tech surveillance cameras to help security forces zoom in on China

NEW DELHI: In the wake of increasing Chinese aggression and the difficulty of physically manning the vast India-China border, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is acquiring high-end surveillance cameras that can see over 20 km deep into Chinese territory. One such camera has been installed at a border outpost (BoP) in Leh and at least 50 more are in the pipeline.

The acquisition is part of a largescale revamp in China border security infrastructure being undertaken by the government following frequent Chinese incursions in the past couple of years, the latest being over fortnight-long faceoffs in Demchok and Chumar areas of Ladakh last month. Government is already in the process of acquiring vehicles and choppers for the force.

READ ALSO: No compromise with China on country's territorial interests, NSA Ajit Doval says

Stressing on the need for greater infrastructure, ITBP DG Subhash Goswami said, "China has become more aggressive in the recent past. Its protests against Indian road building exercises have become more vociferous. Perhaps, it is reacting to India aggressively improving infrastructure along the border."

On the installation of cameras, Goswami said, "We are fully ready to face any challenge from China. Our boys are well trained and equipped. However, we would like to have more surveillance equipment. We can't have boots everywhere. We have installed a state-of-the-art surveillance camera at Thakung post (north of Chushul) and it can see 20-22 km ahead. We are asking government for more such equipment."

Sources said the camera is equipped for thermal imaging as well and thus can see at night too. The footage from the camera recorded over a period of 10 days would be analyzed to gauge the pattern of Chinese troop movement or infrastructure buildup. Sources said at least 50 BoPs in Ladakh could be given such cameras.

Sources said there are also long-term plans for laying optical fibres along the border. As and when that happens, cameras could be connected to BoPs and eventually with headquarters in Delhi for real time monitoring of the border. There is already a plan afoot to have wireless area network in all BoPs.

READ ALSO: China alarmed, tells India not to complicate border situation with new road

The ITBP DG also said two of the 27 proposed roads on the border had been completed are were functioning well. He said the force had also started electronic procurement of its requirements and this had not only brought transparency but also reduced cost and widened the playing field. "We now have 100% e-procurement. This has brought prices of goods down by 20%," Goswami said.

The DG revealed the information during ITBP's annual press conference. He also denied reports of ITBP coming under Army's operational control. "I have not heard of any such thing," he said.

READ ALSO: Modi govt to promote civilian settlements along India-China border

The DG also raised a red flag on health hazards of working at high altitudes and hinted at the force needing to have reserve battalions. "We have 100% deployment. So rotation (from difficult posting to peace posting) becomes difficult. Given the conditions in which our jawans function, it has an impact on their health. Only recently, 20 jawans died of heart attack," said Goswami.

Hi-tech surveillance cameras to help security forces zoom in on China - The Times of India