2 min readNew DelhiAug 4, 2011 02:27 AM IST
First published on: Aug 4, 2011 at 02:27 AM IST
With China in mind,India is embarking on a major infrastructure drive in Arunachal Pradesh,with plans for three railway lines in the border state,including one to connect the strategic Tawang plateau with Assam.
While the Defence Ministry has traditionally been discreet about its infrastructure projects in the North-East,the latest standing committee report has revealed detailed plans to enhance border infrastructure. This includes three strategic railway lines that have been proposed: Missamari Assam to Tawang,North Lakhimpur Assam-Along Arunachal-Silapathar Assam,and Murkongselek Assam-Pasighat Arunachal-Rupai Assam.
Of the railway lines that have been proposed,the Tawang line is the most significant,considering the strategic importance of the area which is also a major Indian military base. At present,the only access is via road which frequently closes down in bad weather,or helicopters which again do not operate in adverse weather conditions.
In a reply to the standing committee,the defence ministry has said that the survey for the Tawang line has been sanctioned and is due to commence shortly.
For the Along line,the survey has already been completed and forwarded to the railway board while the Pasighat line has been endorsed by the Planning Commission and Rs 165 crore has been allotted. The report also says that sufficient funds have been assured especially for the three strategic rail projects in the North-East.
While the government has also accorded top priority to construction of new roads along the North-East border,it is now building operationally critical infrastructure including permanent defences along the Line of Actual Control. Almost 50 per cent work on the 73 critical road projects along the China border has been completed.
The government is also working to connect Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh with a railway line.
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