India unveils 90 key border projects worth Rs 3,000 cr to counter heavily-fortified Chinese military posts
China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inaugurated a total of 90 projects on Tuesday. These projects, ranging from the pivotal Nechiphu tunnel on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to revamped airfields, helipads, roads, and bridges, mark a significant stride in bolstering India's border infrastructure.
The foundation stone for the enhancement of the critical Nyoma advance landing ground, located just 50 km from the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, was also virtually laid by Minister Singh during the ceremony commemorating the inauguration of the 423-meter Devak bridge constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in Jammu.
The Rs 230 crore upgrade at Nyoma ALG, situated at an altitude of over 13,400 feet, includes the extension and reinforcement of the existing airstrip into a 2.7-kilometer «rigid pavement» runway capable of accommodating various fixed-wing aircraft for both defensive and offensive operations.
This project is slated for completion by mid-2025.
Minister Singh remarked, «Nyoma will be developed as a staging ground for troops deployed at forward posts in Ladakh. It will be one of the highest airfields in the world, which will be a game-changer for our forces.»
These 90 infrastructure projects, with a combined cost of Rs 2,941 crore, have been executed by BRO across 11 states and union territories.
Among them, 36 are in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Ladakh, and 11 in Jammu and Kashmir. They follow the completion of 103 projects worth around Rs 2,900 crore in 2022 and 102 projects costing over Rs 2,200 crore in 2021.
Nevertheless, there is still a considerable journey ahead.
