India to build 7 new tunnels along China border to boost connectivity

New Delhi, Aug 9: In a significant development, the central government is planning to construct seven new tunnels along the India-China border to enhance road connectivity in the region.

 

"Over the past three years, five tunnels have been completed, ten are currently in progress, and seven are in the planning phase," the Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said, adding that these roadways will substantially enhance swift connectivity along the border.

 

 

Among these crucial infrastructure projects stands the Atal Tunnel, measuring 9.02 km, which was successfully completed in 2020, thereby offering year-round access to the Lahaul-Spiti valley. The Sela Tunnel, designed to facilitate connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to be completed by the end of August, according to the Minister.

 

"Since 2014, the Modi Government has undertaken significant measures to develop border infrastructure, evident from the escalation of the Border Road Organisation budget from Rs 3,782 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 14,387 crore in 2023-24. This constitutes nearly a fourfold increase," Bhatt said.

 

He further stated that the length of constructed bridges has extended to 22439 metres during the period of 2014-2022, in contrast to 7270 metres between 2008 and 2014.

 

 

Additionally, the government is in the process of establishing a Frontier Highway spanning approximately 1,800 km in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at bolstering inter-valley connectivity. This initiative is poised to significantly enhance both internal and border connectivity, the Minister noted.

 

Bhatt opined that increased budget allocation, expedited construction, adoption of innovative technologies, and swifter administrative clearances substantiate the central government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country's borders

 

A six-kilometre-long tunnel will be built between Bundi and Garbiyan on the Ghatiabagar-Lipulekh road in Uttarakhand to improve access to the Lipulekh Pass on the India-China border. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 20 billion, and it is anticipated to commence in around four to five years.

 

The BRO has built several other tunnels across the India-China Border (LAC), such as the Shinkun La Tunnel and Nepichu Tunnel, to name a few.