Strategic road development - News/Discussions
- Thread starter RAM
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2009
- Messages
- 11,115
- Likes
- 14,530
Rob Williamson
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2019
- Messages
- 9
- Likes
- 13
This Paper by Dr.Gary Busch confirms the death of Indian Gangster Chhota Shakeel-
It is outrageous and both uncannily surprising that no agency/media has picked this up.Dr.Busch is not Paid media.
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/organised-crime-and-international-politics-in-asia/2/
http://www.ocnus.net/artman2/publis...rime-and-International-Politics-in-Asia.shtml
KINDLY PUBLISH IT !!
It is outrageous and both uncannily surprising that no agency/media has picked this up.Dr.Busch is not Paid media.
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/organised-crime-and-international-politics-in-asia/2/
http://www.ocnus.net/artman2/publis...rime-and-International-Politics-in-Asia.shtml
KINDLY PUBLISH IT !!
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
India pushes to complete 61 strategic roads on China border by 2022
India has sharpened its focus on scaling up infrastructure along the China border and set a target of three years to complete all strategic road projects along its northern frontiers, a top general said three days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Arunachal Pradesh to lay the foundation of a tunnel at the Sela Pass.
The tunnel forms part of a strategic road project that will reduce travel time to Tawang, a sector where the Indian Army is heavily deployed. The PM will lay the foundation on February 9.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief Lieutenant General Harpal Singh said on Wednesday that it will complete by December 2022 all 61 strategic roads assigned to it along the country’s northern border with China, spread across Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
These roads add up to a total length of 3,417km, of which 2,350km has been completed.
“We have redeployed our task forces and moved the bulk of them from the hinterland to the northern borders to construct strategic roads within three years. Of BRO’s 32,000-strong workforce, 67% is now deployed along the Chinese border,” Singh said.
The Sela Pass tunnel, announced by the government in the 2018 Budget, is part of the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road, one of the strategic projects along the Chinese border. The tunnel will cut down travel time to Tawang by at least two hours, improving border connectivity for the army.
Of the 61 roads assigned to it, BRO, which has finished work on 34, has been questioned by parliamentary panels over delays. “It is unfair to calculate progress by taking into account the number of roads completed. The length of the roads completed is the industry standard of measuring progress. We have completed almost 70% of the road length,” Singh said.
“If you also count tracks [distinct from black-top roads] that facilitate vehicular movement, we have covered 98% of the road length,” he said. Some key roads likely to be completed soon include a 35km stretch road that will improve connectivity to Doklam, where Indian and Chinese soldiers were locked in a tense 73-day standoff in 2017. Singh said this road would be completed by March 2019.
The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Ladakh is expected to be completed by next year, he said. This road measures 250km.
Singh said India is aiming to match infrastructure on the Chinese side of the border by 2024-25. “Projects are being monitored by the highest levels of the government. We are course to be on a par with China on the infrastructure front,” he added.
Apart from the 61 roads being built by BRO, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is currently engaged in the construction of 12 strategic roads along the Chinese border. The 73 roads measure a total of 4,643km.
The government is also set to clear the construction of 44 more “strategically important roads” along the India-China Border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, according to the CPWD’s annual report for 2018-19. Building these roads is expected to cost around Rs 21,040 crore, the report says.
The detailed project reports for these roads, aimed at swifter mobilisation of troops, are before the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval. The construction work is expected to be split between BRO and CPWD.
“Infrastructure development along the northern borders is improving. Renewed efforts are being made to complete projects on time. Things have been delayed but are gathering pace now,”” said Lieutenant General SL Narasimhan (retd), who commanded a corps in the North-east and is currently a member of the National Security Advisory Board.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...der-by-2022/story-mN9y4D98UOOu72me9RrmTI.html
India has sharpened its focus on scaling up infrastructure along the China border and set a target of three years to complete all strategic road projects along its northern frontiers, a top general said three days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Arunachal Pradesh to lay the foundation of a tunnel at the Sela Pass.
The tunnel forms part of a strategic road project that will reduce travel time to Tawang, a sector where the Indian Army is heavily deployed. The PM will lay the foundation on February 9.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief Lieutenant General Harpal Singh said on Wednesday that it will complete by December 2022 all 61 strategic roads assigned to it along the country’s northern border with China, spread across Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
These roads add up to a total length of 3,417km, of which 2,350km has been completed.
“We have redeployed our task forces and moved the bulk of them from the hinterland to the northern borders to construct strategic roads within three years. Of BRO’s 32,000-strong workforce, 67% is now deployed along the Chinese border,” Singh said.
The Sela Pass tunnel, announced by the government in the 2018 Budget, is part of the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road, one of the strategic projects along the Chinese border. The tunnel will cut down travel time to Tawang by at least two hours, improving border connectivity for the army.
Of the 61 roads assigned to it, BRO, which has finished work on 34, has been questioned by parliamentary panels over delays. “It is unfair to calculate progress by taking into account the number of roads completed. The length of the roads completed is the industry standard of measuring progress. We have completed almost 70% of the road length,” Singh said.
“If you also count tracks [distinct from black-top roads] that facilitate vehicular movement, we have covered 98% of the road length,” he said. Some key roads likely to be completed soon include a 35km stretch road that will improve connectivity to Doklam, where Indian and Chinese soldiers were locked in a tense 73-day standoff in 2017. Singh said this road would be completed by March 2019.
The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Ladakh is expected to be completed by next year, he said. This road measures 250km.
Singh said India is aiming to match infrastructure on the Chinese side of the border by 2024-25. “Projects are being monitored by the highest levels of the government. We are course to be on a par with China on the infrastructure front,” he added.
Apart from the 61 roads being built by BRO, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is currently engaged in the construction of 12 strategic roads along the Chinese border. The 73 roads measure a total of 4,643km.
The government is also set to clear the construction of 44 more “strategically important roads” along the India-China Border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, according to the CPWD’s annual report for 2018-19. Building these roads is expected to cost around Rs 21,040 crore, the report says.
The detailed project reports for these roads, aimed at swifter mobilisation of troops, are before the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval. The construction work is expected to be split between BRO and CPWD.
“Infrastructure development along the northern borders is improving. Renewed efforts are being made to complete projects on time. Things have been delayed but are gathering pace now,”” said Lieutenant General SL Narasimhan (retd), who commanded a corps in the North-east and is currently a member of the National Security Advisory Board.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...der-by-2022/story-mN9y4D98UOOu72me9RrmTI.html
captscooby81
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2016
- Messages
- 7,071
- Likes
- 26,985
Foundation Stone laid down for Sela pass all weather tunnel . Hope we finish this project on time in 3 years as mentioned
Hope they keep the existing road intact and motorable. Would miss it a lot otherwise and the amaze of visiting Tawang.
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2018
- Messages
- 1,872
- Likes
- 4,532
Nehru empire if came then no guarantee please, already congressis are acting like that they have won the race since priyanka "cough cough christian" vadra came.
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
India completes vital Ladakh road
One of the most treacherous and strategically vital road routes in the Himalayas has been completed, providing the military with an all-weather road access to north-eastern Ladakh.
The area had seen skirmishes during the 1962 India-China conflict and also recent standoffs like those in 2013 and 2014 around Depsang.
The 255-km Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) section of the road between Leh and Karakoram Pass has been completed, sources said. Some 37 bridges have been built across various snow-fed rivers.
On April 20, the first-ever vehicle expedition comprising motorcycles completed its run from Leh to Karakoram Pass and back (around 1,000 km). The road from Darbuk onwards runs at an altitude of 14,000 feet or more through a jagged part of the Karakoram mountain range.
The last 235-km stretch of the road from Shyok to Karakoram Pass has no civilian population. Shyok, a hamlet comprising 25 families, is the last Indian village and civilians are not permitted beyond it. Building the DS-DBO section of the road was a key thrust area of the Ministry of Defence for this strategic northernmost corner of India — termed Sub-Sector North (SSN) by the military.
The road will help India’s efforts to dominate the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — the de facto border — and also areas abutting Aksai Chin (under Chinese control), Jiwan Nalla, Chip-Chap river, etc. The two armies have had faceoffs in 2013 and 2014 in the area over differing perception of the LAC.
En route to the Karakoram Pass is the DBO — an advanced landing ground used by the IAF. The DBO, located at 16,700 feet, is a flat plateau. It’s just 20 km short of the 18,726-foot-high Karakoram Pass that divides Ladakh and Xinjiang province of China. This provides for rapid deployment.
Eastern Ladakh shares a 826-km frontier with China and is geographically defined as the area from Karakoram Pass in the north to Demchok in the south-east.
A previous effort to build the DS-DBO section of the road (between 2000 and 2012) at a cost of Rs 320 crore had failed. The road alignment was too close to the Shyok river and had got washed away. This time, around 160 km of it is being re-aligned to keep it away from the water.
As of today, there is no commercial use of the Shyok-DBO section; however, Janet Rizvi in her book “Trans Himalayan Caravans”, published in 1999, says trade caravans between Ladakh and Kashgar (now in Xinjiang) were a regular feature till 1937. Trade was dominated by Punjabi merchants from Hoshiarpur, she writes.
The sensitivity of the Karakoram Pass was studied by Sir Francis Younghusband, a British Army officer and explorer, in the early 1900s. He feared a Russian invasion through the Karakoram Pass. But those fears have long gone — India and China have a rare settled boundary at the Karakoram Pass.
Dominating the LAC
One of the most treacherous and strategically vital road routes in the Himalayas has been completed, providing the military with an all-weather road access to north-eastern Ladakh.
The area had seen skirmishes during the 1962 India-China conflict and also recent standoffs like those in 2013 and 2014 around Depsang.
The 255-km Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) section of the road between Leh and Karakoram Pass has been completed, sources said. Some 37 bridges have been built across various snow-fed rivers.
On April 20, the first-ever vehicle expedition comprising motorcycles completed its run from Leh to Karakoram Pass and back (around 1,000 km). The road from Darbuk onwards runs at an altitude of 14,000 feet or more through a jagged part of the Karakoram mountain range.
The last 235-km stretch of the road from Shyok to Karakoram Pass has no civilian population. Shyok, a hamlet comprising 25 families, is the last Indian village and civilians are not permitted beyond it. Building the DS-DBO section of the road was a key thrust area of the Ministry of Defence for this strategic northernmost corner of India — termed Sub-Sector North (SSN) by the military.
The road will help India’s efforts to dominate the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — the de facto border — and also areas abutting Aksai Chin (under Chinese control), Jiwan Nalla, Chip-Chap river, etc. The two armies have had faceoffs in 2013 and 2014 in the area over differing perception of the LAC.
En route to the Karakoram Pass is the DBO — an advanced landing ground used by the IAF. The DBO, located at 16,700 feet, is a flat plateau. It’s just 20 km short of the 18,726-foot-high Karakoram Pass that divides Ladakh and Xinjiang province of China. This provides for rapid deployment.
Eastern Ladakh shares a 826-km frontier with China and is geographically defined as the area from Karakoram Pass in the north to Demchok in the south-east.
A previous effort to build the DS-DBO section of the road (between 2000 and 2012) at a cost of Rs 320 crore had failed. The road alignment was too close to the Shyok river and had got washed away. This time, around 160 km of it is being re-aligned to keep it away from the water.
As of today, there is no commercial use of the Shyok-DBO section; however, Janet Rizvi in her book “Trans Himalayan Caravans”, published in 1999, says trade caravans between Ladakh and Kashgar (now in Xinjiang) were a regular feature till 1937. Trade was dominated by Punjabi merchants from Hoshiarpur, she writes.
The sensitivity of the Karakoram Pass was studied by Sir Francis Younghusband, a British Army officer and explorer, in the early 1900s. He feared a Russian invasion through the Karakoram Pass. But those fears have long gone — India and China have a rare settled boundary at the Karakoram Pass.
Dominating the LAC
- The 255-km Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Baig Oldie (DS-DBO) section of the road between Leh and Karakoram Pass has been completed
- Will help India’s efforts to dominate the LAC and areas abutting Aksai Chin, Jiwan Nalla, Chip-Chap river, etc
- A previous effort to build the DS-DBO section of the road (between 2000 and 2012) at a cost of Rs 320 crore had failed
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
#BRO dedicates strategically impt bridge on Jadganga river & 19.3 km road from Nelong to Sonam via Naga on #China border in Uttarkashi area of #Uttarakhand part of Project Shivalik both these constructions are among 61 Indo China Border Roads (ICBR) conceived by GoI
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
Siachen region to get modern roads, new bridge
LEH: A massive plan to modernise all roads and construct new ones leading to the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield, has been launched in the Ladakh sector for faster movement of troops and equipment, according to officials.
Under Project Vijayak, the Border Roads Organisation is constructing and modernising roads from Panamic to Siachen base camp and all other interior roads that lead to the Siachen glacier, they said.
New methods and technology are being employed in the project so that the roads can withstand adverse climatic conditions which prevail in the region throughout the year, an official said.
"It is not easy to operate in these weather conditions where temperature dips to minus 10-15 degrees during summer and carry on construction activities," he said.
Blacktopping of all roads in the strategic sector has been going on despite hostile weather and topography. The roads are motorable and can transport soldiers, materials and heavy machinery towards the strategic Siachen, according to officials.
"Our men faced lot of difficulties to operate machines while blacktopping the roads. The hot-mix plants need to be shifted regularly to operate near the spot so that the material does not lose its temperature and quality, the official said.
The BRO is also planning to construct a new bridge at Siachen Base to replace the suspension bridge so to avoid any hiccups in carrying heavy material to far off areas, the officials said.
"This is the second in the series of bridges to be constructed on the important axis which could revolutionise movement in the world highest battlefield," another official said.
The modernisation of roads in the strategic sector will continue till it fulfils the needs and requirements of the defence forces and the locals, the official said.
Construction and modernisation of roads in the Siachen sector is a big achievement given the extreme adverse weather and topography of the region. But we are committed to achieve our targets, he said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ern-roads-new-bridge/articleshow/71050866.cms
LEH: A massive plan to modernise all roads and construct new ones leading to the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield, has been launched in the Ladakh sector for faster movement of troops and equipment, according to officials.
Under Project Vijayak, the Border Roads Organisation is constructing and modernising roads from Panamic to Siachen base camp and all other interior roads that lead to the Siachen glacier, they said.
New methods and technology are being employed in the project so that the roads can withstand adverse climatic conditions which prevail in the region throughout the year, an official said.
"It is not easy to operate in these weather conditions where temperature dips to minus 10-15 degrees during summer and carry on construction activities," he said.
Blacktopping of all roads in the strategic sector has been going on despite hostile weather and topography. The roads are motorable and can transport soldiers, materials and heavy machinery towards the strategic Siachen, according to officials.
"Our men faced lot of difficulties to operate machines while blacktopping the roads. The hot-mix plants need to be shifted regularly to operate near the spot so that the material does not lose its temperature and quality, the official said.
The BRO is also planning to construct a new bridge at Siachen Base to replace the suspension bridge so to avoid any hiccups in carrying heavy material to far off areas, the officials said.
"This is the second in the series of bridges to be constructed on the important axis which could revolutionise movement in the world highest battlefield," another official said.
The modernisation of roads in the strategic sector will continue till it fulfils the needs and requirements of the defence forces and the locals, the official said.
Construction and modernisation of roads in the Siachen sector is a big achievement given the extreme adverse weather and topography of the region. But we are committed to achieve our targets, he said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ern-roads-new-bridge/articleshow/71050866.cms
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
Work on important Sela tunnel connecting with Tawang to begin by September end
The tunnel once complete will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas as it is going to avoid all the avalanche prone and snowfall areas
NEW DELHI: The work on significant Sela tunnel excavation is to begin this month-end. The work on the approach routes for the tunnel connecting the rest of India with Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh is almost finished.
“By the end of this month (September) hopefully the work on the tunnel will start.” told an officer aware of the work going on in Arunachal Pradesh.
The work on the Northern approach, about 400 meters, is nearing end and the Southern approach, about 8 kms, is complete. The slope work on the Northern approach is going on and once it is over the work of drilling the rock will begin, added the officer quoted above. The work has been deliberately concentrated towards the Northern approach as it won’t stop due to the nearing snowfall season.
The importance of the tunnel can be understood from the fact that snowfall and avalanche often stop people and military personnel looking after the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for long on the lone highway which connects Tawang with Guwahati and the rest of the country in winters. Not even helicopters can ply into that area due to bad weather conditions.
The tunnel once complete will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas as it is going to avoid all the avalanche prone and snowfall areas. It will reduce the travelling time from Tezpur to Tawang by more than one hour as the travellers would be able to avoid the dangerous snow-covered 13,700 feet high Sela top.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this important Project on 09th Feb 2019. “It is a priority project for the government and it will complete in 36 months.” said the officer.
Tawang town inhabited by more than 50,000 people, called as the little Tibet by China, is one of the contentious areas which China claims as its own.
The Project costing Rs. 687 Crore being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation would be completed in the next three years. The entire project sanctioned in October 2018 covers a total distance of 12.04 Kms which consist of two tunnels of 1790mtrs and 475 mtrs with approach roads of 9.75 Km.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nat...tawang-to-begin-by-september-end-2036434.html
The tunnel once complete will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas as it is going to avoid all the avalanche prone and snowfall areas
NEW DELHI: The work on significant Sela tunnel excavation is to begin this month-end. The work on the approach routes for the tunnel connecting the rest of India with Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh is almost finished.
“By the end of this month (September) hopefully the work on the tunnel will start.” told an officer aware of the work going on in Arunachal Pradesh.
The work on the Northern approach, about 400 meters, is nearing end and the Southern approach, about 8 kms, is complete. The slope work on the Northern approach is going on and once it is over the work of drilling the rock will begin, added the officer quoted above. The work has been deliberately concentrated towards the Northern approach as it won’t stop due to the nearing snowfall season.
The importance of the tunnel can be understood from the fact that snowfall and avalanche often stop people and military personnel looking after the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for long on the lone highway which connects Tawang with Guwahati and the rest of the country in winters. Not even helicopters can ply into that area due to bad weather conditions.
The tunnel once complete will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas as it is going to avoid all the avalanche prone and snowfall areas. It will reduce the travelling time from Tezpur to Tawang by more than one hour as the travellers would be able to avoid the dangerous snow-covered 13,700 feet high Sela top.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this important Project on 09th Feb 2019. “It is a priority project for the government and it will complete in 36 months.” said the officer.
Tawang town inhabited by more than 50,000 people, called as the little Tibet by China, is one of the contentious areas which China claims as its own.
The Project costing Rs. 687 Crore being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation would be completed in the next three years. The entire project sanctioned in October 2018 covers a total distance of 12.04 Kms which consist of two tunnels of 1790mtrs and 475 mtrs with approach roads of 9.75 Km.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nat...tawang-to-begin-by-september-end-2036434.html
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2016
- Messages
- 1,597
- Likes
- 5,818
Yeah, and its Sep now, how many months elapsed without doing anything ?? 8 months !
In that time Chinese would have built a highway plus several tunnels and laid the communication cables also !
Goddammit
Hari Sud
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2012
- Messages
- 3,774
- Likes
- 8,499
Still that infrastructure built by the Chinese will not let them cross Himalayas. Chinese are building in Tibet. Terrain in Tibet is not the same as in the 25,000 feet high Himalayas. Chinese are building in 5,000 feet Tibet plateau. ...... Remember that......Yeah, and its Sep now, how many months elapsed without doing anything ?? 8 months !
In that time Chinese would have built a highway plus several tunnels and laid the communication cables also !
Goddammit
Yeah, and its Sep now, how many months elapsed without doing anything ?? 8 months !
In that time Chinese would have built a highway plus several tunnels and laid the communication cables also !
Goddammit
If GREF or BRO would be able to start work before November, they should get World's Best Engineer award.
No one could think of starting work in Summer in AP.
This time even now its raining Cats and Dogs over there.
Post Art 370 nullification, i think work on 4 laning of NH44 (former NH1A) would have been affected due to the curfew and protests.
The Qazigund-Banihal road tunnel and the Ramban-Banihal , Nasri-Ramban stretch would be delayed.
The Qazigund-Banihal road tunnel and the Ramban-Banihal , Nasri-Ramban stretch would be delayed.
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
New Doklam roads set to alter India, China military dynamics
In 2017, the Indian Army was forced to move to the trijunction through a single road in the absence of an alternative, delaying the deployment of troops in Doklam. The alternative road will enable access to the area through two points, easing the logistic difficulties, reducing time and making the process of deployment smoother.
A senior Indian military official said the alternate road will help inter-valley troops transfer and reinforcement near the India-China border.(AP Photo (Representational))
India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built an alternative road through which its troops can enter the Doklam valley — the site of a 73-day military standoff between India and China in 2017 — where the Chumbi valley of China, Bhutan and India converge, a development that has the potential to alter the military dynamics in the region.
In 2017, the Indian Army was forced to move to the trijunction through a single road in the absence of an alternative, delaying the deployment of troops in Doklam. The alternative road will enable access to the area through two points, easing the logistic difficulties, reducing time and making the process of deployment smoother.
“The alternate road will help inter-valley troops transfer and reinforcement,” a senior military officer said on condition of anonymity.
Doklam standoff: 'India capable of tackling any threat,' says Lt Gen MM Naravane
Army vice-chief designate MM Naravane said that India is capable of tackling any threat. Naravane added that China was caught unprepared during the 2017 Doklam standoff.
The standoff at the India-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction began on June 16, 2017, when the People’s Liberation Army entered Doklam in a bid to alter the status quo in violation of Beijing’s existing understanding with both India and Bhutan. The issue was eventually resolved with the disengagement of border personnel on August 28, 2017.
Importantly, of the 61 strategic roads spanning 3,346 km being built by BRO along the India-China border, 3,298 km are now connected. Over 2,400 km, or nearly 72%, of these roads are already blacktopped, making them all-weather roads.
This year, BRO will complete blacktopping another 11 India-China strategic roads. Blacktopping of another nine roads will be completed next year. “Construction of just six roads — three in the east and three in the west — of the India-China strategic roads with a total length of just 58 km remain,” Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, director general of BRO, said. The rapid construction along the India-China border over the last few years has changed the military dynamics in the region. This includes all-weather alternative access into Ladakh, passing through the Rohtang -Koksar- Kelong route into the Zanskar valley and further up into Nimu. This access will reduce travel time for the military by several hours. Three more tunnels — Baralach La, Lachung La, and Tanglang La — are now being constructed. The Rohtang tunnel will be thrown open this December.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the 180 km-long road parallel to the India-China border connecting Passighat to Brahmakund is also complete. Significantly, Taksin and Tama Chung Chung are linked by the road connecting the Eastern and Western RALP (Rest of Arunachal Pradesh, a military term), saving thousands of kilometres of journey.
Tama Chung Chung was being “air -maintained” till recently. “And, to move from western Arunachal Pradesh to eastern Arunachal Pradesh, one moved south into Assam and climbed back north,” a second senior military officer who did not want to be named said.
In the west, the critical 255 km Durbok-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road connecting Leh to the northernmost corner of India, which lies a few kilometres south of the crucial Karakoram Pass, is now complete and blacktopped. Significantly, all the 40-odd bridges along the DSDBO road have been widened and strengthened to allow heavy vehicles to travel with ease.
“Time for moving troops, equipment, supplies, and stocks has reduced by about 40%,” a senior official in the ministry of defence (MoD) who did not want to be named said.
“Earlier, convoys made their own road while moving up, now with the bridges being widened and the road coming, movement is much faster,” a third officer said on condition of anonymity. Importantly, the biggest bridge on the DSDBO bridge (road) — midway along the 255 km road which was proving to be a major challenge — is now complete.
“Given the difficult rocky terrain and that construction season is limited to only just three months, several micro-foundations were built and were clubbed together instead of one large foundation for piers to support the bridge,” the second senior officer quoted above said.
The officer added: “BRO has adopted new cementitious- and admixture- based technology — which allow constructing roads faster in colder climates where construction season is smaller and also material doesn’t easily disintegrate unlike traditional constructions — for surfacing like the Chinese to construct the roads. The new technology has reduced the time taken to construct and blacktop the roads by about one-third.”
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ry-dynamics/story-6tfYqnfEAwFvjT6bJCwf8M.html
In 2017, the Indian Army was forced to move to the trijunction through a single road in the absence of an alternative, delaying the deployment of troops in Doklam. The alternative road will enable access to the area through two points, easing the logistic difficulties, reducing time and making the process of deployment smoother.
A senior Indian military official said the alternate road will help inter-valley troops transfer and reinforcement near the India-China border.(AP Photo (Representational))
India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built an alternative road through which its troops can enter the Doklam valley — the site of a 73-day military standoff between India and China in 2017 — where the Chumbi valley of China, Bhutan and India converge, a development that has the potential to alter the military dynamics in the region.
In 2017, the Indian Army was forced to move to the trijunction through a single road in the absence of an alternative, delaying the deployment of troops in Doklam. The alternative road will enable access to the area through two points, easing the logistic difficulties, reducing time and making the process of deployment smoother.
“The alternate road will help inter-valley troops transfer and reinforcement,” a senior military officer said on condition of anonymity.
Doklam standoff: 'India capable of tackling any threat,' says Lt Gen MM Naravane
Army vice-chief designate MM Naravane said that India is capable of tackling any threat. Naravane added that China was caught unprepared during the 2017 Doklam standoff.
The standoff at the India-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction began on June 16, 2017, when the People’s Liberation Army entered Doklam in a bid to alter the status quo in violation of Beijing’s existing understanding with both India and Bhutan. The issue was eventually resolved with the disengagement of border personnel on August 28, 2017.
Importantly, of the 61 strategic roads spanning 3,346 km being built by BRO along the India-China border, 3,298 km are now connected. Over 2,400 km, or nearly 72%, of these roads are already blacktopped, making them all-weather roads.
This year, BRO will complete blacktopping another 11 India-China strategic roads. Blacktopping of another nine roads will be completed next year. “Construction of just six roads — three in the east and three in the west — of the India-China strategic roads with a total length of just 58 km remain,” Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, director general of BRO, said. The rapid construction along the India-China border over the last few years has changed the military dynamics in the region. This includes all-weather alternative access into Ladakh, passing through the Rohtang -Koksar- Kelong route into the Zanskar valley and further up into Nimu. This access will reduce travel time for the military by several hours. Three more tunnels — Baralach La, Lachung La, and Tanglang La — are now being constructed. The Rohtang tunnel will be thrown open this December.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the 180 km-long road parallel to the India-China border connecting Passighat to Brahmakund is also complete. Significantly, Taksin and Tama Chung Chung are linked by the road connecting the Eastern and Western RALP (Rest of Arunachal Pradesh, a military term), saving thousands of kilometres of journey.
Tama Chung Chung was being “air -maintained” till recently. “And, to move from western Arunachal Pradesh to eastern Arunachal Pradesh, one moved south into Assam and climbed back north,” a second senior military officer who did not want to be named said.
In the west, the critical 255 km Durbok-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road connecting Leh to the northernmost corner of India, which lies a few kilometres south of the crucial Karakoram Pass, is now complete and blacktopped. Significantly, all the 40-odd bridges along the DSDBO road have been widened and strengthened to allow heavy vehicles to travel with ease.
“Time for moving troops, equipment, supplies, and stocks has reduced by about 40%,” a senior official in the ministry of defence (MoD) who did not want to be named said.
“Earlier, convoys made their own road while moving up, now with the bridges being widened and the road coming, movement is much faster,” a third officer said on condition of anonymity. Importantly, the biggest bridge on the DSDBO bridge (road) — midway along the 255 km road which was proving to be a major challenge — is now complete.
“Given the difficult rocky terrain and that construction season is limited to only just three months, several micro-foundations were built and were clubbed together instead of one large foundation for piers to support the bridge,” the second senior officer quoted above said.
The officer added: “BRO has adopted new cementitious- and admixture- based technology — which allow constructing roads faster in colder climates where construction season is smaller and also material doesn’t easily disintegrate unlike traditional constructions — for surfacing like the Chinese to construct the roads. The new technology has reduced the time taken to construct and blacktop the roads by about one-third.”
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ry-dynamics/story-6tfYqnfEAwFvjT6bJCwf8M.html
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
Col Chewang Rinchen Bridge built between Durbuk&Daulat Beg Oldie to be inaugurated by Defence Minister on Oct21 in Eastern Ladakh. It'll reduce travel time by about half & help in development of border areas&villages across Shyok River. It's 45 kms east of Line of Actual Control.
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
India catches up with China, builds over 3,000 km of roads along border in 20 years
The roads are meant to counter Chinese infrastructure expansion along the border, and were first approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999.
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence is set to complete the first phase of the project to build a network of roads along the China border, for brisk movement of troops and weapons, 20 years after it was first envisaged, ThePrint has learnt.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had in 1999 approved the construction of these roads by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence. The project was to be completed between 2003 and 2006 but the deadline was then extended to 2012 — it too was missed.
According to a source in the ministry, the government had in the first phase planned to construct 61 roads along the India-China border totalling 3,346 km. Of these, 36 roads (1,260 km) have been constructed, while links have been established in 20 others (2,035 km) which are being tested. Work on the remaining five roads has begun and will be completed soon.
“This is part of defence preparedness. India is getting there to China,” the source said. “The focus of the government is increased connectivity, smooth patrolling on these roads, which will lead to securing the areas better,” the source added.
“Now, for phase 1, only 51 km is left to be completed,” the source added. “It is a big achievement considering that the project had been pending for years.”
Some of the finished roads include the stretch connecting Sasoma and Saseria in the Ladakh sector, the Ghatibagarh-Lipulekh road in the Mansarovar sector, Gunji-Kutti-Jollingkong road in the Uttarakhand sector, Dokala in the Sikkim sector, the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road in the Tawang sector and the Damping-Yangtze in the Arunachal sector.
Infographic by Arindam Mukherjee | ThePrint
Also read: Indian Army unwilling to demilitarise Siachen Glacier as ‘Pakistan cannot be trusted’
Project cost over Rs 3,000 crore
According to a source in Ministry of Home Affairs, the government has spent Rs 3,728 crore on the project. This includes Rs 781 crore spent in 2016-17, Rs 745 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 890 crore in 2018-19. The proposed cost for the current fiscal is Rs 1,312 crore.
“The estimated cost to complete the first phase was Rs 4,700 crore, which has been done well within the budget,” the source said. “Once phase 1 is completed, details of the next phase will be discussed with all the stakeholders.”
The government is yet to work out how many phases and how many roads need to be built.
A counter to China
The roads are meant to act as a counter to Chinese infrastructure in its border areas.
It was after China began constructing roads and tracks along India’s northern and eastern frontiers in 1997 that New Delhi felt a need to respond.
“India then constituted a China Study Group (CSG) to study the requirement of road communication along the China border for fast and smooth movement of troops,” the defence ministry source said.
And the end of the study, the CSG identified 73 important locations along the China border for Indo-China Border Roads (ICBRs) to be built.
Of the 36 roads that have been constructed, the CSG has completed seven roads (268 km), the defence ministry has built 20 roads (818 km) and the home ministry has worked on nine roads (174 km).
Among the 20 roads that are soon to be completed, five roads were worked on by CSG (762 km), 12 roads (1,105 Km) by the defence ministry and three roads (168 km) by the home ministry.
https://theprint.in/defence/india-c...-km-of-roads-along-border-in-20-years/323777/
The roads are meant to counter Chinese infrastructure expansion along the border, and were first approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999.
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence is set to complete the first phase of the project to build a network of roads along the China border, for brisk movement of troops and weapons, 20 years after it was first envisaged, ThePrint has learnt.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had in 1999 approved the construction of these roads by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence. The project was to be completed between 2003 and 2006 but the deadline was then extended to 2012 — it too was missed.
According to a source in the ministry, the government had in the first phase planned to construct 61 roads along the India-China border totalling 3,346 km. Of these, 36 roads (1,260 km) have been constructed, while links have been established in 20 others (2,035 km) which are being tested. Work on the remaining five roads has begun and will be completed soon.
“This is part of defence preparedness. India is getting there to China,” the source said. “The focus of the government is increased connectivity, smooth patrolling on these roads, which will lead to securing the areas better,” the source added.
“Now, for phase 1, only 51 km is left to be completed,” the source added. “It is a big achievement considering that the project had been pending for years.”
Some of the finished roads include the stretch connecting Sasoma and Saseria in the Ladakh sector, the Ghatibagarh-Lipulekh road in the Mansarovar sector, Gunji-Kutti-Jollingkong road in the Uttarakhand sector, Dokala in the Sikkim sector, the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road in the Tawang sector and the Damping-Yangtze in the Arunachal sector.
Infographic by Arindam Mukherjee | ThePrint
Also read: Indian Army unwilling to demilitarise Siachen Glacier as ‘Pakistan cannot be trusted’
Project cost over Rs 3,000 crore
According to a source in Ministry of Home Affairs, the government has spent Rs 3,728 crore on the project. This includes Rs 781 crore spent in 2016-17, Rs 745 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 890 crore in 2018-19. The proposed cost for the current fiscal is Rs 1,312 crore.
“The estimated cost to complete the first phase was Rs 4,700 crore, which has been done well within the budget,” the source said. “Once phase 1 is completed, details of the next phase will be discussed with all the stakeholders.”
The government is yet to work out how many phases and how many roads need to be built.
A counter to China
The roads are meant to act as a counter to Chinese infrastructure in its border areas.
It was after China began constructing roads and tracks along India’s northern and eastern frontiers in 1997 that New Delhi felt a need to respond.
“India then constituted a China Study Group (CSG) to study the requirement of road communication along the China border for fast and smooth movement of troops,” the defence ministry source said.
And the end of the study, the CSG identified 73 important locations along the China border for Indo-China Border Roads (ICBRs) to be built.
Of the 36 roads that have been constructed, the CSG has completed seven roads (268 km), the defence ministry has built 20 roads (818 km) and the home ministry has worked on nine roads (174 km).
Among the 20 roads that are soon to be completed, five roads were worked on by CSG (762 km), 12 roads (1,105 Km) by the defence ministry and three roads (168 km) by the home ministry.
https://theprint.in/defence/india-c...-km-of-roads-along-border-in-20-years/323777/
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
India begins work on tunnels along border with China
NEW DELHI: The construction of tunnels near India’s borders with China and Pakistan has picked up pace. India has issued a global tender for the construction of a state of the art tunnel under the Brahmaputra in Assam, quickened the pace of work on three other tunnels near the border with China, and plans to build six tunnels near the Pakistan border.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is handling this matter, has issued a global tender for the construction of a tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam, while it has also begun the excavation of a tunnel under the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, top officials said. Work on another tunnel in Nechiphu, also in Arunachal Pradesh, which will shorten the travel time to Tawang, will begin soon.
The new tunnels that are being planned for India’s western front are at Sadhna Pass (a mountain pass connecting Karnah tehsil of Kupwara to rest of Kashmir valley) and Pharkian Galli (in Kupwara) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nineteen tunnels are planned to come up along India’s frontiers with China and Pakistan. While they include those that are already completed, they comprise of new ones such as the ones on eastern front in the Brahmaputra, Sela, Nechiphu and Shinkula and near the western front as well. “Nineteen odd tunnels are in planning in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. About 15 of them are in J&K and Ladakh such as at Sadhna and Pharkian Galli. The ones in Arunachal include the Sela and Nechiphu tunnels,” an official explained.
Besides the 19, there are also plans to have four tunnels in the Akhnoor-Poonch road, also for shortening the distance and travel time.
These developments were shared by the BRO during a presentation to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this month.
One of the most important tunnels will be the one in the Brahmaputra. “The tender for the construction was issued in October and the response from companies will be sought until January. The tender is for making a Detailed Project Report, which will comprise the details of the alignment and the construction,” an official said.
The Standing Committee on Defence in a report presented to the Lok Sabha Speaker on December 20, mentions that the timeline to finish the underwater tunnel is 2028. While appreciating the development, the Committee said that the BRO should adhere to timelines and complete the work on schedule. “The role of the ministry (of defence) and other stakeholders...is very crucial in accomplishing this project without registering any time and cost escalations. If required, the ministry may constitute a monitoring committee for regular oversight in this regard,” it said.
The tunnel will be located north of Tezpur in Assam, where it will connect the north and south banks of the river, as ET had reported. It is expected to be between 12 km and 15 km long. It could entail having both rail and road networks or just the latter, depending on the difficulty in construction and the gradient underwater. It could be constructed underwater or on the river bed or under it. As the depth and course of the Brahmaputra changes, the most likely option is to construct a tunnel under the river bed.
The reason behind the government contemplating on having a tunnel under the Brahmaputra is that the strategic bridges connecting different areas in Assam to Arunachal Pradesh and further ahead to regions along the LAC are vulnerable to interference by the adversary. The tunnel, however, would be unexposed and ensure complete protection to military convoys moving in it.
North of this area, work on Sela tunnel excavation has begun after the approach roads to it were completed. There are two approach roads- the 400 metre long Northern one and the Southern one which is about 8 km long. “The excavation work has started on the 2.5 km long tunnel which will comprise of two tubes,” an official said, adding that the deadline for completing the project is March 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the tunnel on February 9. This tunnel will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang and areas ahead of it along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. While the tunnel will ensure troops reach the border areas during snowfall and avalanches, it will also reduce travel time between Tezpur, where a strategic formation is located, and Tawang as the army can avoid moving over the dangerous Sela Pass that is located at 13,700 feet.
Work will also start within the next three months on the 450 metre long Nechiphu tunnel, which is located on the road between Bhalukpong and Tawang. This will also provide better access to Tawang, as Nechiphu pass is an accident prone area.
Along the northern border, a tunnel will be constructed in Shinkula, which will reduce the distance to Leh and the Zanskar Valley. Shinkula is a mountain pass between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ng-border-with-china/articleshow/73023844.cms
NEW DELHI: The construction of tunnels near India’s borders with China and Pakistan has picked up pace. India has issued a global tender for the construction of a state of the art tunnel under the Brahmaputra in Assam, quickened the pace of work on three other tunnels near the border with China, and plans to build six tunnels near the Pakistan border.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is handling this matter, has issued a global tender for the construction of a tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam, while it has also begun the excavation of a tunnel under the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, top officials said. Work on another tunnel in Nechiphu, also in Arunachal Pradesh, which will shorten the travel time to Tawang, will begin soon.
The new tunnels that are being planned for India’s western front are at Sadhna Pass (a mountain pass connecting Karnah tehsil of Kupwara to rest of Kashmir valley) and Pharkian Galli (in Kupwara) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nineteen tunnels are planned to come up along India’s frontiers with China and Pakistan. While they include those that are already completed, they comprise of new ones such as the ones on eastern front in the Brahmaputra, Sela, Nechiphu and Shinkula and near the western front as well. “Nineteen odd tunnels are in planning in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. About 15 of them are in J&K and Ladakh such as at Sadhna and Pharkian Galli. The ones in Arunachal include the Sela and Nechiphu tunnels,” an official explained.
Besides the 19, there are also plans to have four tunnels in the Akhnoor-Poonch road, also for shortening the distance and travel time.
These developments were shared by the BRO during a presentation to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this month.
One of the most important tunnels will be the one in the Brahmaputra. “The tender for the construction was issued in October and the response from companies will be sought until January. The tender is for making a Detailed Project Report, which will comprise the details of the alignment and the construction,” an official said.
The Standing Committee on Defence in a report presented to the Lok Sabha Speaker on December 20, mentions that the timeline to finish the underwater tunnel is 2028. While appreciating the development, the Committee said that the BRO should adhere to timelines and complete the work on schedule. “The role of the ministry (of defence) and other stakeholders...is very crucial in accomplishing this project without registering any time and cost escalations. If required, the ministry may constitute a monitoring committee for regular oversight in this regard,” it said.
The tunnel will be located north of Tezpur in Assam, where it will connect the north and south banks of the river, as ET had reported. It is expected to be between 12 km and 15 km long. It could entail having both rail and road networks or just the latter, depending on the difficulty in construction and the gradient underwater. It could be constructed underwater or on the river bed or under it. As the depth and course of the Brahmaputra changes, the most likely option is to construct a tunnel under the river bed.
The reason behind the government contemplating on having a tunnel under the Brahmaputra is that the strategic bridges connecting different areas in Assam to Arunachal Pradesh and further ahead to regions along the LAC are vulnerable to interference by the adversary. The tunnel, however, would be unexposed and ensure complete protection to military convoys moving in it.
North of this area, work on Sela tunnel excavation has begun after the approach roads to it were completed. There are two approach roads- the 400 metre long Northern one and the Southern one which is about 8 km long. “The excavation work has started on the 2.5 km long tunnel which will comprise of two tubes,” an official said, adding that the deadline for completing the project is March 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the tunnel on February 9. This tunnel will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang and areas ahead of it along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. While the tunnel will ensure troops reach the border areas during snowfall and avalanches, it will also reduce travel time between Tezpur, where a strategic formation is located, and Tawang as the army can avoid moving over the dangerous Sela Pass that is located at 13,700 feet.
Work will also start within the next three months on the 450 metre long Nechiphu tunnel, which is located on the road between Bhalukpong and Tawang. This will also provide better access to Tawang, as Nechiphu pass is an accident prone area.
Along the northern border, a tunnel will be constructed in Shinkula, which will reduce the distance to Leh and the Zanskar Valley. Shinkula is a mountain pass between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ng-border-with-china/articleshow/73023844.cms
Prashant12
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 3,027
- Likes
- 15,002
In ramp-up, 75% roads on China border ready
NEW DELHI: India is ramping up its infrastructure development along the border with China. The Border Roads Organisation has constructed 75 percent of the entire length of strategic roads along this border assigned to it, with plans afoot to finish 11 more by this year and nine more by next year, government officials said.
The new 11 roads, known as India-China Border Roads (ICBRs), that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) plans to complete by March will be located along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. The BRO also plans to complete about nine more such roads by March 2021. It has set a target to complete the 61 of the 73 ICBRs assigned to it in three years.
The balance 12 roads are with the Central Public Works Department. With such road development along the Chinese frontier, the BRO is making efforts to reduce the ‘differential’ or the distance between the closest Indian road along the LAC and the Chinese one across the border. This will allow the Indian forces to quickly mobilise in a particular sector during an untoward incident and counter any possible Chinese movements.
The BRO is also constructing 125 strategic bridges in different sectors of the LAC, including Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. There are plans to construct 200 more bridges along this border.
Officials explained that the 61 ICBRs total a length of 3,350 km. “Seventy-five percent of this length has been completed, meaning they have been blacktopped. Twenty-five percent of the entire road length, about 850 km, is left for blacktopping. Ninety-nine of the road length has been connected and thereafter they will be blacktopped,” an official said.
“Eleven ICBRs will be completed by March this year. They are located in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Nine roads will be completed by March 2021,” another official added.
Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Defence in a report tabled to the Lok Sabha Speaker last month had recommended that bridges on the rivers in the North-East should be constructed at more than two places. “So in case of one bridge is swept away due to natural fury, other option can be exploited. This move will definitely help in reducing the distance for the natives as well as help the forces to reach places in time,” it had said.
There are also plans of constructing 19 tunnels along the frontiers with China and Pakistan with work having picked up pace on three important ones on the eastern front, as reported by ET. Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane earlier this month had said that force will focus on infrastructure development on the eastern front.
The BRO, however, is facing a shortage of funds, which has affected the construction and maintenance of bridges and roads and other developmental activities, according to the Standing Committee. It recommended that in view of the “atmosphere” in India’s neighbouring countries, the government must prioritise spending and develop infrastructure and roads so that the forces can have effective mobility troops and machine.
The Committee also pointed out that issues related to land acquisition, forest clearance and lack of quarries are causing delays in road construction. Adverse weather conditions, landslides, limited working season and insurgency affected areas compound this problem.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...n-china-border-ready/articleshow/73409778.cms
NEW DELHI: India is ramping up its infrastructure development along the border with China. The Border Roads Organisation has constructed 75 percent of the entire length of strategic roads along this border assigned to it, with plans afoot to finish 11 more by this year and nine more by next year, government officials said.
The new 11 roads, known as India-China Border Roads (ICBRs), that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) plans to complete by March will be located along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. The BRO also plans to complete about nine more such roads by March 2021. It has set a target to complete the 61 of the 73 ICBRs assigned to it in three years.
The balance 12 roads are with the Central Public Works Department. With such road development along the Chinese frontier, the BRO is making efforts to reduce the ‘differential’ or the distance between the closest Indian road along the LAC and the Chinese one across the border. This will allow the Indian forces to quickly mobilise in a particular sector during an untoward incident and counter any possible Chinese movements.
The BRO is also constructing 125 strategic bridges in different sectors of the LAC, including Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. There are plans to construct 200 more bridges along this border.
Officials explained that the 61 ICBRs total a length of 3,350 km. “Seventy-five percent of this length has been completed, meaning they have been blacktopped. Twenty-five percent of the entire road length, about 850 km, is left for blacktopping. Ninety-nine of the road length has been connected and thereafter they will be blacktopped,” an official said.
“Eleven ICBRs will be completed by March this year. They are located in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Nine roads will be completed by March 2021,” another official added.
Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Defence in a report tabled to the Lok Sabha Speaker last month had recommended that bridges on the rivers in the North-East should be constructed at more than two places. “So in case of one bridge is swept away due to natural fury, other option can be exploited. This move will definitely help in reducing the distance for the natives as well as help the forces to reach places in time,” it had said.
There are also plans of constructing 19 tunnels along the frontiers with China and Pakistan with work having picked up pace on three important ones on the eastern front, as reported by ET. Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane earlier this month had said that force will focus on infrastructure development on the eastern front.
The BRO, however, is facing a shortage of funds, which has affected the construction and maintenance of bridges and roads and other developmental activities, according to the Standing Committee. It recommended that in view of the “atmosphere” in India’s neighbouring countries, the government must prioritise spending and develop infrastructure and roads so that the forces can have effective mobility troops and machine.
The Committee also pointed out that issues related to land acquisition, forest clearance and lack of quarries are causing delays in road construction. Adverse weather conditions, landslides, limited working season and insurgency affected areas compound this problem.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...n-china-border-ready/articleshow/73409778.cms
