Govt sanctions ₹12,434-cr for roads bordering China

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned ₹12,434.90 crore for expediting the construction of 32 roads on the India-China border under Phase-2. The proposal was stepped up in the wake of the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. The construction work on the Phase-2 and Phase-3 was held-up due to delay in security, environment clearances and land acquisition issues. Border Roads Organisation, Central Public Works Department and Indo-Tibetan Border Police have been engaged to carry out the construction work. The roads connecting border outposts will come up in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. For phase-3, additional 50 roads have been proposed, with road connectivity between the three phases. BRO has been entrusted with the task of completing 61 border roads and the work was completed on 29 such projects. ITBP personnel maintain constant vigil along 3,488 km of the India-China border and operates 180 outposts at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,750 feet in the western, middle and the eastern sectors of the India-China border — from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal.