The government has planned the construction of 64 strategic roads with 3,508 km total length and 103 bridges in regions falling in the Indo-Pakistan, India-China, and Indo-Myanmar border areas with an estimated cost of Rs 31,000 crore.
Nearly three-fourths of the roads, and all the suggested bridges would come up in regions close to the India-China border. Soon, the proposals would be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval.
Officials said that the strategic roads, which have been identified for India @75 Strategic Roads Package (ISRP), will also help decrease the road head differential gap with the border as compared to neighbouring nations. In Arunachal Pradesh, which is the border area opposite Tawang, the distance of the road head from the Indian border ranges from 20 km to 120 km. It’s less than 8 km all along the border, in the case of China.
About 78% of the total investment would be made in the projects that would be constructed in India-China border areas, while roads offered in India-Pakistan border regions would get another 14% of the total investment.
Officials said the identified road and bridge projects are also striving at boosting connectivity along with the border states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The government has proposed to finish all these projects by March 2029, which will also improve the operational capabilities of the armed forces and help accelerate socio-economic activities in these areas. Out of the 64 road projects, 41 are proposed to be greenfield to be constructed on the new alignment.
Also read: BRO to build the world’s highest tunnel at Shinku La Pass