India plans 1,800-km highway along China border in Arunachal Pradesh : India, News - India Today
With few roads in high-altitude areas, patrolling is difficult and the border has become vulnerable to Chinese incursions.India, in a move which can be dubbed as an attempt to counter neighbour China, will take up an ambitious road project along the McMahon Line in Arunachal Pradesh.
The proposed Indo-China frontier highway, that will be monitored by the Union Home Ministry will run parallel along the China border and will be 1,800-km long, Indian Express reported.
The government is also planning an industrial corridor in Arunachal Pradesh which also happens to be the parliamentary constituency of MoS (Home Affairs) Kiren Rijiju.
The ministry has set the ball rolling and has asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to prepare a detailed project report. "The MoRTH has been asked to submit it at the earliest. It will also include the cost and other financial implications of the project," a senior Home Ministry official told Indian Express.
The proposed highway, with an estimated cost of over Rs.40,000 crore, will pass through Tawang, East Kameng, Upper Subansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Desali, Chaglagam, Kibito, Dong, Hawai and Vijaynagar in bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
The government has already relaxed environmental clearances for border area projects.
"The aim is to construct a seamless travel from one part of the state to another. As the terrain is not smooth along the border areas, we will intersect the highway with tunnels so that the link is not broken anywhere," said a senior MHA official.
The proposed Indo-China frontier highway, that will be monitored by the Union Home Ministry will run parallel along the China border and will be 1,800-km long, Indian Express reported.
The government is also planning an industrial corridor in Arunachal Pradesh which also happens to be the parliamentary constituency of MoS (Home Affairs) Kiren Rijiju.
The ministry has set the ball rolling and has asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to prepare a detailed project report. "The MoRTH has been asked to submit it at the earliest. It will also include the cost and other financial implications of the project," a senior Home Ministry official told Indian Express.
The proposed highway, with an estimated cost of over Rs.40,000 crore, will pass through Tawang, East Kameng, Upper Subansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Desali, Chaglagam, Kibito, Dong, Hawai and Vijaynagar in bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
The government has already relaxed environmental clearances for border area projects.
"The aim is to construct a seamless travel from one part of the state to another. As the terrain is not smooth along the border areas, we will intersect the highway with tunnels so that the link is not broken anywhere," said a senior MHA official.
