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COVER STORY

and NH54 from Aizawl to Tuipang (350.7km) in Mizoram. Phase 2 can become a model for other states too.
Project is to improve and construct NH40 in Meghalaya and NH54 Alongside, India is accelerating its border infrastructure projects to
by passes in Mizoram. NH40 from Shillong to Dawki (81km) and new build roads and bridges and enable easier movement of troops
5 by-passes section (21.4km) are under construction. Under the and heavy equipment as it confronts the new strategic reality of a
Phase 3, construction for Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge (19.282km) across more hostile China and a heavily militarized border. The government
the Brahmaputra River (Dhubri, Assam and Phullbari in Meghalaya) is also focused on the speedy development of the border regions
have started since last February 2021. by constructing vital infrastructure. The pressing need to enhance
Additionally, the Union Government has given the go-ahead combat efficiency and operational logistics, along with boosting
for critical infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh at the economy of Indian border areas, has spurred the government
an estimated cost of more than `1,100 crore. It would include to raise the budget for border infrastructure to include roads, rail,
construction of roads and 18 foot-tracks measuring 598 km. Most bridges, tracks and a wide variety of related projects.
projects were earmarked in areas along the China border in north Recently Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated three
and northeast part of Arunachal. Arunachal shares its longest border roads and 24 bridges, mostly built to ease access to the Indo-
with China, followed by Myanmar and Bhutan. Tibet border. The Ladakh’s Chisumle-Demchok Road is today the
The NH208 from Kailasahar to Khowai section is implemented by world’s highest motorable road. The road passes through Umling
National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), La Pass. The road spans 52 km and connects some of the key
Government of India with financial support by the government areas in the region. It has made its way to the Guinness Book of
of Japan, amounting to JPY 14,926 million (approximately `982 World Records by traversing across heights at an altitude of 19,000
crore) as part of the regional connectivity improvement in the North ft. The road connects the towns in the Chumar sector of Eastern
Eastern States. Ladakh, providing a direct route between Chisumle and Demchok
Meanwhile, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will assist from Leh. Demchok has been an India-China flashpoint earlier; the
development projects in the Northeast by offering optimum site of a standoff between the two armies in 2016. In the current
utilization of satellite imaging and other space technology for standoff in Eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020, Demchok
better accomplishment of targets. The ISRO will assist development has become a bone of contention. With the axis now complete, it
projects in the Northeast through space technology and will provides a direct route from Chisumle, which lies on the major road
contribute by offering optimum utilization of satellite imaging and coming from Leh, Karu and Nyoma; all of them being important
other space technology applications for better accomplishment of military stations.
infrastructural projects in all eight states. ISRO is already monitoring Another highlight was the inauguration of India’s first indigenous
and geo-tagging 67 projects at 221 sites in all eight states funded Class 70, 140-feet Double-Lane Modular Bridge, built at a height of
by Ministry of DoNER and the NEC. This is first of its kind in the whole 11,000 feet at Flag Hill, Dokala, in Sikkim. It provides an alternate axis
country where there is an institutionalized involvement of the ISRO to the Trijunction of India-China-Bhutan near the Dokalam plateau.
in mapping and sharing of data for developmental projects and it The plateau was the site of the over-70-day standoff between India

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