NEW DELHI: India has fasttracked the building of strategic projects near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) despite China’s objection to New Delhi’s plans.
Over the years, the building of border infrastructure on the Indian side was delayed due to various problems such as difficult terrain, slow policy implementation and land acquisition. But this has changed in recent years, especially after the coming of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre with strategic projects being fast-tracked.
According to a Defence Ministry official, India has refused to be intimidated by Chinese objections to its plans with regard to border infrastructure building. “Beijing will have to learn to accept India’s roads and rails near the LAC,” the official added.
Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated to the nation 28 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), worth Rs 724 crore, during an event in Arunachal Pradesh. Eight of these projects are in Ladakh, five in Arunachal Pradesh and four in Jammu & Kashmir.
Singh, in his address, described the projects as a testament to the concerted efforts of the Government and the BRO towards the development of border areas in order to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed Forces.
The development comes nearly a month after Indian troops thwarted PLA’s attempt to transgress LAC in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector and unilaterally change the status quo.