Government Begins Construction on Frontier Highway in Arunachal with LAC and Invites Bids in Effort to Counter China | Exclusive
In a significant step, the government has finally started construction on the Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh, the nation’s most important and difficult project, which is located close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The government said on Thursday that it was inviting the first building proposals for the project, which it hopes to be finished by 2027.
News18 has evaluated the first round of government bids, which have a combined value of around Rs 2,200 crore. They are building a 13-kilometer road from Tutin to Zido, a 17-kilometer vital bridge between Hunli and Ithun, and a significant 121-kilometer highway section between Hunli and Hayuliang next to the LAC. In addition to aiding military mobility to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the approximately 1,700 km-long Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh will serve as a critical strategic asset by closely monitoring China’s operations across the border. This is India’s main response to China’s actions since China had previously protested to this project when it was initially planned, which was about 2016.
Dirang-Tawang Road, Nafra, Lada, Bameng, Chayangtajo, Sarli, Damin, Parsi Parlo, Tali, Taliha, Siyum, Mechuka, Tato, Payum, Tuting, Singa, Dibang Valley, and Anjaw will all be connected by the Arunachal Frontier Highway till it reaches Vijaynagar. When it’s finished, it will provide a connection between Bomdila, which is close to Tawang and the LAC, and Vijaynagar, which is close to the Myanmar border. The project would cost a total of Rs 27,000 crore. “One of my biggest dream projects to connect all the remote border locations of Arunachal Pradesh is approved,” said Arunachal Pradesh MP and Union minister Kiren Rijiju previously. One of the largest and most difficult border road projects in Independent India will be this one.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH: A MASSIVE INFRA PUSH
In an attempt to thwart China’s plans along the LAC, the Narendra Modi administration has made a major push for road development in Arunachal Pradesh, including the Frontier Highway.
Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita, the commander of the Eastern Army, recently told News18 India that while progress along the LAC, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, has lagged, the country had achieved enormous progress in the last ten years. Kalita will retire on December 31. The People’s Liberation Army of China, or PLA, began earlier than we did, so in certain regions they are somewhat ahead of us. We are putting a lot of attention on this now, and I have no doubt that in a year we will succeed. It’s not a race, but with the tremendous effort being made, I think we will succeed,” Kalita had told News18.
In addition to the Trans-Arunachal Highway that passes through the center of the state and the Arunachal East-West Corridor, there would also be the Frontier Highway in the northeast and east of Arunachal Pradesh along the border with China.
Arunachal Pradesh has also seen a surge in activity from the Border Roads Organization (BRO), which last year announced intentions to construct four important border roads totaling around 300 km there and requested Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for them.
