India matching China in border infrastructure

[Contrarian]

India matching China in border infrastructure: Pallam Raju

Shillong (PTI): India is building infrastructure along the Indo-China border to match the developments on the other side with the Centre approving a 1,850-km Trans Himalayan Highway in Arunachal Pradesh, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said here on Tuesday.

"Centre has approved the Trans-Himalayan highway which aims at providing inter basin double lane connectivity," Raju told reporters here.

The highway will run from Tawang in west Arunachal Pradesh to the state's easternmost tip. The road, close to the border, would give inter-valley connectivity.

"There is immense scope for development in the Northeast. We are building infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh to match China's," he said.

"The work is expected to begin in two years time," he said, adding that the work undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation along the borders was critical and was to be completed in a time-bound manner, giving thrust to quality.

BRO Director General Lt Gen AK Nanda said the infrastructure along the borders earlier was not improved "by design".

"We did not want to develop the areas because we did not want the enemy forces to take benefit out of it. But now, our approach has changed and we are building it on our capacity, modern equipment and workforce," Nanda said.

In fact, BRO was contemplating on outsourcing its work to civil construction agencies, he added.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

[Contrarian]

Stupid really, they thought that since they did not have enough weapons, and tanks/IFV's in the North East, so no point in developing roads, as the Chinese would be able to bring heavy equipment and armoured vehicles through them incase of an attack. They chose to let the area remain forested and inaccessible.

Atleast sense is prevailing now!

 

[Spring Onion]

faciliating own enemy by spending own money.

 

[ashfaque]

China is not enemy

 

[Black Stone]

I am sure the Indians are aware of the Chinese infrastructure activities for a while. Why have they left it till now to "match" the Chinese infrastructure and not before?

Do the Indians see the Chinese as a threat now and not before?

 

[ngold]

China is not threat for India.. China attacked India only due to foul play by Nehru on tibbet's case.. if chnia was really such aggressor then in 1962 they can hit us more than what they did.....

 

[nitesh]

India to reactivate another strategic airbase on China border

With incidents of transgressions on the unresolved Sino-Indian border on a high, India is set to reopen another strategic airfield in Eastern Ladakh that will allow rapid induction of troops to the region.

Work on reviving the Fukche Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), situated at an altitude of 4,200 m barely three kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control, is almost complete and the first fixed wing aircraft is expected to land at the airbase within a month.

The army, which is keen to reactivate the airbase that is currently only used as a helicopter landing ground, is working full steam to complete the surfacing works at Fukche before the snow sets in. The airfield, which was out to use during the 1962 war, will be reactivated after a gap of almost four decades.

The airbase will consist of an unpaved surface (kutcha strip) and will be able to accommodate the AN 32 medium lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Once reactivated, it will be the second highest landing field in the world.

"Work on the landing ground is almost complete and we hope to finish it within a few days. The strip will be prepared for landings by fixed wing transport aircrafts," a senior Army officer said.

Air Marshal PK Barbora, Commander in Chief of the Western Air Command, confirmed to The Indian Express that the air force would start trial flights on the refurbished airbase as soon as strengthening works are complete.

The officer said that the landing ground could be used for humanitarian relief works and evacuation in case of natural calamities in the region. "The Army is working on the airfield. They should probably be ready in a month's time. Once work is complete, the air force would perform trials on the landing ground," the senior officer said.

The reopening of the Fukche airbase comes months after the Daulat Beg Oldie airfield, situated in the same region near the Karakoram pass, was reactivated by the air force in May, 2008. DBO, as it is known, is the highest airbase in the world and was reactivated for maintaining supplies to troops posted on the border.

However, the third major airfield in Ladakh along the Sino-India border, the Chushul advanced landing ground, which is located at a height of over 5,000 m, will not be reactivated in the near future. A senior army officer said that reopening the Chushul airbase is yet on the MoD's agenda.

India has been reviving a series of advanced landing grounds and helicopter bases along the Sino India border from Ladakh down to the North East. The armed forces have carried out status reports on reactivating these airbases after directive from the PMO on the feasibility of using them for prompting tourism as well as improving the army's reach along the border....

 

[Black Stone]

China is not threat for India.. China attacked India only due to foul play by Nehru on tibbet's case.. if chnia was really such aggressor then in 1962 they can hit us more than what they did.....

Thanks for your reply, I have read about the Sino-India war and I agree that they could do more damage. I believe the Chinese also voluntary moved back to pre-war borders.

You mentioned China only attacked due to Nehru's foul play on the Tibet case. Could you elaborate more on what you mean?

 

[gpit]

Stupid really, they thought that since they did not have enough weapons, and tanks/IFV's in the North East, so no point in developing roads, as the Chinese would be able to bring heavy equipment and armoured vehicles through them incase of an attack. They chose to let the area remain forested and inaccessible.

Atleast sense is prevailing now!

Actually India's old policy is a valid one.

One reason that Nazi Germany could quickly run over Poland, etc. but not Russia was because of the great roads in the former countries that facilitated mechanized infantry. Those great infantry got stuck in backward, muddy roads in Russia.

But PLA perhaps was not that mechanized back to 1962…

 

[su-47]

I am sure the Indians are aware of the Chinese infrastructure activities for a while. Why have they left it till now to "match" the Chinese infrastructure and not before?

Do the Indians see the Chinese as a threat now and not before?

India does not see china as an imminent threat.

But when someone is building up their forces on our border, its stupid not to maintain a minimum credible deterrence.

In international politics, allies become enemies at a terrific pace. In 139, Germany and Russia were friends, even had pact to attack Poland together. By 1941, Russia and Germany were locked in the bloodiest conflict in human history.

India has to maintain a degree of deterrence in the border, in case some unforeseen problem develops with china in the future. this is just more like a safety precaution than an offensive move.

we just dont want to be caught with our pants down.

 

[DarkStar]

Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said.
" We are building infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh to match China's,"

Why do our Indian friends always have to match, to follow, to be like the other? First it was, Delhi will be like Paris, then it was Bombay will be like Bangkok, now it is Mumbai will be like Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, Banglore will be like Silicon Valley.

Can't you garner your own ambition, so that people from other countries will say, " We want to build a second Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta".

 

[su-47]

Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said.
" We are building infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh to match China's," he said.

Why do our Indian friends always have to match, to follow, to be like the other? First it was, Delhi will be like Paris, then it was Bombay will be like Bangkok, now it is Mumbai will be like Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, Banglore will be like Silicon Valley.

Can't you garner your own ambition, so that people from other countries will say, " We want to build a second Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta".

bhai, let us match them first. we have set them as benchmarks. once we match those benchmarks, we can start garnering our ambition.

 

[PeaceForAll]

good.. seems like finally India 's waking up..

 

[Spring Onion]

china is not enemy? U mean china-india Bhai-Bhai?? Lol. China enemy of most countries. Communist and Democrasy cant b Bhai-bhai hahaha. As far as india's development goes it will take time. Rome was not build in a day Lol. By the way china cant attack india coz if they do it would be china's big mistake. Anyway first they have to take care of sweet Taiwan and Tibet and than come to face Largest Democrasy INDIA Lol. Why would china dig its own grave? Lol.

thanks for decreasing some of my stress

Rome was not build in a day Lol

But it was burnt in a day

 

[SmashJ]

thanks for decreasing some of my stress



But it was burnt in a day

burnt in a day...... well that would have to be false for india/pakistan. let us see.... pakistan was burnt in 13 days ('71 war)...... india unfortunately did not burn... even in 1962.... it was going down but going down fighting, did not surrender 90k+ soldiers.. lasted for about 30 days..think about it, will ring a bell