New Delhi October 12 CNS : In a boost to border connectivity, 44 bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are ready for use and were inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.
Most of these bridges enhance connectivity to areas leading up to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as a push to infrastructure amid the India-China standoff.Eight of these bridges are in Ladakh where a military standoff between Indian and Chinese armies is continuing for more than five months.
Another 10 of these bridges are in Jammu and Kashmir and will improve road connectivity to the Line of Control with Pakistan.Stressing on the importance of road infrastructure on both the borders Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the e-inauguration of these bridges touched upon the collusive threat from Pakistan and China to explain the need for enhancing road connectivity.
“You are well aware of the conditions created on our northern and eastern borders. First Pakistan, and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission by the two countries. We have a border of about 7000 km with these countries,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
States like Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh that share a border with China have eight new bridges.Four of these bridges are in Sikkim and two in Himachal Pradesh – two states also sharing a border with China.The remaining four bridges are open to the public now are in Punjab.This comes soon after the inauguration by of Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3.
The 9 km tunnel will allow all connectivity through the year between the Lahaul-Spiti area that was cut off for 5-6 months due to heavy snow in the winter.The tunnel is also a boost to connectivity between Manali and Leh that will not just benefit civilians but also aide quicker military movement to Ladakh reducing the travel time.
The road to Daulat Beg Oldie in Eastern Ladakh close to the Line of Actual Control that was undergoing renovation will be ready by the end of this month before the onset of peak winter a senior military official told India Today TV. India’s road construction on the Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie route (DS-DBO) was one of the triggers for the ongoing five-month military standoff between India and China in Ladakh.
BRO has completed 54 of 102 bridges planned this year. 60 bailey bridges have also been made to meet immediate requirements.The defence minister said five-six years ago, the annual budget of BRO used to be Rs. 3000-4000 crore, it has now been increased to more than 11,000 crores.
“It has increased almost threefold, and despite the Covid-19 epidemic, there is no restriction on the expense of BRO,” Rajnath Singh said.(CNS)
