Sikkim-Arunachal borders get ₹250-bn road network

Going ahead with the construction of much-needed strategic roads and permanent integrated buildings along the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the Union government has recently cleared ₹250 billion. In addition, other projects in borders areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura are also being taken up. The decision to fast-track the construction of roads and other critical infrastructure on the Indo-China border assumes significance as it is happening to fend off the threat on its north-eastern border. The final blueprint envisages construction of 19 roads, 29 permanent integrated buildings and other critical infrastructure along the border in Arunachal and Sikkim. The critical infrastructure will come up in a mountainous and rugged terrain, a challenging task for the executing agency as job also involves the construction of two-metre wide roads. Some issues involving forest and wildlife clearance and land acquisition have already been resolved and the projects will soon be executed at a faster pace, the sources said.