Ramping Up Border Infrastructure:
According to India’s External Affairs Minister, the government’s recent border infrastructure projects focus on the north and east along India’s 3,488 km border with China (or LAC).
- Reports claim that Indian forces have lost access to 26 of 65 patrolling points along the LAC since 2020.
- The timing is crucial because of the upcoming meetings of the G-20 Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of the SCO
- Ramping up infrastructure in Ladakh, HP, UK, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Many of these projects which have been in the pipeline for several decades have been expedited.
- For example, the length of roads constructed in the China border areas (6,806 km between 2014 to 2022) is almost double the length constructed from 2008-2014.
- Projects connecting India to “friendly” neighbouring states such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar.
- Improving cross-border connectivity via highways, bridges, inland waterways, railroads, electricity lines and fuel pipelines.
- Modernising and constructing integrated check posts (ICPs) at all the border crossings to smooth trade.
- Funding and constructing infrastructure projects. For example,
- The Mahakali motorable bridge and the Maitri Setu between Tripura and Bangladesh,
- The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP),
- The Sittwe port project and the road to Mizoram, etc.
