Infrastructure a key to border preparedness: S Jaishankar on security at India-China border

"We have focused on the rapid development of infrastructure along Northern Borders with China for obvious strategic reasons," EAM.

New Delhi, Feb 08: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted that the border infrastructure holds the key to any nation's preparedness and pointed out security is closely linked with infrastructure at the borders including in India-China border.

"We have focused on the rapid development of infrastructure along Northern Borders with China for obvious strategic reasons. We have focused on rapidly developing border connectivity with our friendly neighbours to enhance trade, energy and other people-to-people exchanges." ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying during an interaction with the reporters.

The PM Modi-led BJP government's focus has always been to ensure development-linked cooperation. "The facts are there for all to see. During the period 2008-14 the budget allocated for the China border projects stood at a mere Rs 3000-4000 cr which has taken a multi-fold jump to Rs 14000 at present," Jaishankar said.

Talking about the infrastructure development, the EAM said, "between 2008-14 roads built stood at 3610 km which has between 2014-22 at 6806 kms. Bridges built in the period before 2014 was 7.3 km which during the Modi govt regime stands at 23.5 km." He then claimed that one cannot do a thing without investing in infrastructure to ensure our forces are prepared better

"Behind the debate that we often witness on India China border including that of questions asked by opposition, one needs to look at what goes into our border preparedness. It's the quality of our structures, the technology involved and its maintenance," the minister statedsaid.

The centre has laid a roadmap for such infrastructure which includes a network of all-weather roads. "It is not just a financial commitment Vada commitment for faster and better delivery," Jaishankar further stated. Notably, the budget of BRO Has witnessed a double growth from 2500-5000 crores which is close to a 50 per cent increase in the capital budget in the current financial year allocations made during the recently presented union budget.