Construction of border roads

The Government has decided to undertake construction of 73 roads of operational significance along Indo-China border. Out of these 73 roads, 46 roads are being constructed by Ministry of Defence and 27 roads by Ministry of Home Affairs. Out of 73 roads, 24 roads have been completed. The project is likely to be completed by the year 2020.

The proposal was expected to be completed in the year 2012-13 but the Executive Agencies have not adhered to the time schedule due to very high altitude and mountainous, rugged and difficult terrain.

The following measures have been taken to expedite the road project:

i. A Steering Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs to review and monitor the progress of construction of these roads. The Committee meets periodically to sort out various bottlenecks in the implementation of the project with all agencies concerned including State Governments.

ii. States of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have constituted the Empowered Committee to resolve the issues related to land acquisition, forest/ wildlife clearance, allotment of quarries etc.

iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has accorded general approval under Section (2) of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 for diversion of forest land for construction and widening of border roads in the areas falling within 100 Kms aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

iv. Ministry of Defence has approved Long Term Roll On Work Plan (LTROWP) and Long Term Equipment Plan (LTEP) for construction of border roads.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Shri R. Dhruva Narayana in the Lok Sabha today.