4 Strategic Border Railway Lines Approved
On Track: 4 Strategic Border Railway Lines Approved
India is preparing to lay 14 strategic railway lines adjoining the borders of China and Pakistan. This helps in easier and quicker movement of troops and facilitates transport of defence equipment as well. These railway lines are in addition to 73 roads being constructed along the LAC or Line of Actual Control with China, according to Delhi sources quoted by the media. 12 of the 14 planned railway lines have reached completion of survey stage.
The 4 railway lines have been planned in J&K, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The 73 roads cover 3812 km in length. Laying of 61 roads covering 3404 km have been assigned to the BRO or Border Road Organisation, as per media reports. Of the 61 roads being constructed currently, 27 are located in Arunachal Pradesh, 12 are in J&K, 14 are in Uttarakhand and 3 in Sikkim. The remaining 5 are in Himachal Pradesh. Of the 61 roads, around 17 have been completed so far. 12 are being constructed by the CPWD for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. China has made rapid strides in this area and India needs to catch up. Following the 1962 war, India has to now focus on developing superior border infrastructure in this area.
India is now oriented towards developing capabilities near the China border and this includes building of roads as well as mountain divisions and new airfields as well as landing grounds. The PMO has already asked the Railways to carry out the survey of around the 1000 km area of lines defined by the Defence Ministry as critical. The lines are located in the following states-Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Railways has to enumerate the cost of the detailed survey borne by the government, namely the Ministry of Defence and Finance. The cost of setting up the survey could be around INR 200 crore according to some media estimates. The important lines are Missamari-Tawangin Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; North Lakhimpur-Along-Silapathar in Assam, Murkongselek-Pasighat-Tezu-Parashuram Kund-Rupai in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; and Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh in Himachal Pradesh-Jammu and Kashmir.
The 4 lines are to be part of the total number of important lines of the armed forces to be used for supplying troops and movement during the hour of need. Given the many incursions across the borders and the somewhat tenuous relations the nation has with bordering countries over past skirmishes, construction of adequate border infrastructure is critical.
Our troops and jawans face hostile conditions as they protect the nation. Defence infrastructure has to be of top quality so that our brave soldiers can get every advantage they need to serve the nation. The importance of well developed border infrastructure cannot be emphasised enough, given the past.
