Tuesday, 13 October 2020 | PNS | New Delhi
Defence Minister inaugurates 44 bridges, mostly in border areas, to boost military infrastructure
As the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with China continues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan remains hot, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday threw open 44 bridges, mostly in border areas, including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, as part of India’s rapid enhancement of its military and infrastructure capabilities to counter any challenge from the two adversaries.
This comes at a time when scientists have also been conducting successive missile tests for operational readiness in the last few weeks.
Dedicating the strategically important bridges in seven States, including eight permanent bridges in Ladakh, to the nation virtually, Rajnath Singh minced no words in saying that after Pakistan, China is also creating a dispute at the border with India as if it was part of a “mission”.
India is not only facing the situations along the frontiers resolutely, but it is also bringing in major development, including in border areas. “You are well aware of the conditions created along our northern and eastern borders. First it was Pakistan, and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 km with these countries where tension continues,” the Minister said.
As regards the bridges, a majority of them is expected to significantly improve movement of troops in areas along the border with China in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors, officials said.
Rajnath said in the challenging times of Covid-19 and despite the border tensions and disputes caused by Pakistan and China, the country was not only resolutely facing them but also bringing about historical changes in all sectors of development.
The Defence Minister also laid the foundation stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. This 450 metre-long tunnel would ensure all-weather connectivity across Nechiphu pass. The bridges included 10 in J&K, eight in Ladakh, two in Himachal, four each in Punjab and Sikkim and eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
In his address, Singh complimented the BRO for their achievements in improving infrastructure in border areas and said that dedication of 44 bridges in one go in itself was a record.
He said the annual budget of the BRO that varied from Rs 3,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore in years between 2008 and 2016, saw a substantial rise and is pegged at over Rs 11,000 crore in 2020-21. “There was no reduction of this budget despite Covid-19,” he said.
Underlining the significance of these projects, Rajnath said construction of the bridges will benefit both the civilian population as well as the military in the areas.
“Our armed forces personnel are deployed in large numbers in areas where transport is not available throughout the year,” he said, noting improvement in border infrastructure will significantly help armed forces.
Despite unprecedented snowfall breaking a 60-year record, all strategic passes and roads were cleared for traffic about one month before their average yearly opening dates, officials said.
Rajnath said he was happy to know that over 2,200 kilometers of roads have been cut by the BRO during the last two years, using the latest technologies, and state-of-the-art equipment. Also, surfacing was carried out on about 4,200 kms of roads, he added.
India is expediting work on several key projects including on a strategic road linking Darcha in Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh that will criss-cross a number of high-altitude snow-bound passes. The nearly 290-km-long road will be crucial for the movement of troops and heavy weaponry into the frontier bases of the Ladakh region and will provide a crucial link to the Kargil region.
The Minister also said in addition to expediting road construction, the BRO has laid special emphasis on construction of bridges by completing 28 major bridges last year while 102 major bridges are being completed this year. Fifty-four of these bridges have already been completed. Over 60 Bailey Bridges have also been constructed by BRO to meet immediate requirements of armed forces and people living in remote areas.
