'India matching China in border infrastructure'

Shillong, Sep 30 : Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju today said India is building infrastructure along the Indo-China border to match the developments on the other side with the Centre approving a 1,850-km Trans Himalayan Highway in Arunachal Pradesh.

"Centre has approved the Trans-Himalayan highway which aims at providing inter basin double lane connectivity," Raju told reporters in Shillong.

The highway will run from Tawang in west Arunachal Pradesh to the state's easternmost tip. The road, close to the border, would give inter-valley connectivity.

"There is immense scope for development in the Northeast. We are building infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh to match China's," he said.

"The work is expected to begin in two years time," he said, adding that the work undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation along the borders was critical and was to be completed in a time-bound manner, giving thrust to quality.

BRO Director General Lt General AK Nanda said the infrastructure along the borders earlier was not improved "by design".

"We did not want to develop the areas because we did not want the enemy forces to take benefit out of it. But now, our approach has changed and we are building it on our capacity, modern equipment and workforce," Nanda said.

ANI