The Indian Government is planning to construct 44 strategic roads along the international border with China and over 2100 km of axial and lateral roads in Punjab and Rajasthan, abutting Pakistan, a CPWD document shows.
As per annual report (2018-19) prepared, and released earlier this month by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the agency has been asked to construct 44 ‘strategically important’ roads along the India-China border to ensure quick mobilisation of troops in case of a conflict, stated a report published on Sunday by The Week.
The nearly 4000-km-long Line of Actual Control between India and China touches areas from J&K to the northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh.
The report comes at a time when China has given stress on projects along its borders with India.
It has been reported that in 2018, both Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a face-off at the Doklam tri-junction after the neighbouring country had begun building road in the region.
The standoff came to an end following a mutual agreement under which China stopped the construction of the road and India withdrew its troops from the area.
According to the report the 44 strategically important roads to be constructed along the India-China border will cost nearly Rs 21,000 crore.
The report said: “The CPWD has been entrusted with construction of 44 strategically important roads along the Indo-China Border spanning 5 states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.”
The report further stated: “The total Cost of work as per DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) is Rs 21,040 crores (approx.).”
The process for approval of DPRs by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has been underway.
Lateral and axial roads measuring over 2,100 kilometers will be built with a cost of around Rs 5,400 crore in Rajasthan and Punjab along the Indo-Pakistan border, the CPWD report stated.
The DPRs for the important project are under preparation in CPWD.
The report further said: “A total of 945 km of lateral roads and 533 km of axial roads lie in Rajasthan (tentative cost Rs 3,700 crores) and 482 km of lateral roads and 219 km of axial roads in Punjab (tentative cost Rs 1,750 crores).”