BOOSTING INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE INDIA-CHINA BORDER

AMARTYA SINHA takes a look at the state of infrastructures near the Line of Actual Control with China, keeping in view that an armed confrontation with the communist neighbour can be prevented only when the Indian military achieves the technological and strategic edge over the adversary in terms of good quality metalled roads, railway tracks, bridges, tunnels, ALGs and airbases.

- AMARTYA SINHA

The 2020 India-China border skirmishes have been an eyeopener of all. The rapid and widespread mobilisation of Indian and Chinese forces at multiple standoff points on the banks of Pangong Tso Lake (Finger-5, 6, 7 and 8), Galwan Valley (Patrolling Point-14) and Hot Springs Sector (Patrolling Points- 15 & 17A) have proved the efficacy of having good quality road-infrastructure in those areas. Had it not been the world-class infrastructure near the LAC (Line of Actual Control) boosting the Indian military’s capability of mobilising assets for countering the hostile build-up, the Chinese would have possibly launched ground incursions inside Eastern Ladakh using the same strategy of 1962.

Thus, a dense mesh of all-weather metalled roads, railway tracks, bridges and advanced landing grounds (ALGs)near the international boundary will prove to be a boon for the Indian military in challenging the enemy’s adventurist motives in those areas. These new generation infrastructures will significantly enhance the Indian forces’ reach towards frontline positions on the LAC, thus giving the nation massive strategic leverage over an expansionist neighbour.

Slew of infrastructure projects are either on the verge of completion or are undergoing the process of execution, while many are still in the planning and conceptualization stage. Following is a peek into the wide gamut of road, rail and airfield infrastructure which are coming up near the Sino-Indian border.

ICBR (India-China Border Roads)