India’s strategic Road projects along China border running 10 years behind schedule

Biznextindia : In view of rising tensions along the Indo-China border, the parliamentary standing committee on Defence  has recommended the government to expedite the completion of key Indo-China Border Road projects  which are running 10 years behind schedule.

In its 10^th report, the standing committee has expressed dissatisfaction over the tardy pace of the projects and has asked the ministry of Defence to take these projects with utmost priority and seriousness.

As per the report the government of India has identified 73 India China Border Road (ICBR) projects of length 3812 kilometer along the China border and the initial target date for completion of these projects was 2012. However, even after a decade, a good number of projects are yet to be completed. 

Out of the 73 ICBRs, 61 roads of length 3417.50 km have been entrusted to Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Out of these, 28 roads of length of 981 km are completed and works on the balance roads are under progress and are in different stages of completion. Out of 35 General Staff roads, work has been completed in respect of 14 roads. Out of rest of 21 roads work has commenced but not yet completed. Out of 13 China Study Group roads, work relating to only 6 roads has been completed and rest of 7 roads are still under construction. The same is the case with Indo Tibet Border Police roads where out of 13 roads, only 8 has been completed and rest are still under construction.

“The Committee note that delay as mentioned by Border Road Organisation such as obtaining forest/wildlife clearances, difficult terrain conditions, hard rock stretches, limited working period, paucity of construction material, challenges posed by natural disasters such as flash flood of Leh in 2010, Earthquake in Sikkim in 2011, Uttrakhand Floods in 2013 and J&K Floods in 2014 etc is understandable. The revised completion schedule of 73 ICBR is 2022” the report said.