The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), in collaboration with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the National Projects Construction Corporation, has launched the third phase of the India-China Border Roads (ICBR) project, focusing on bolstering the road network in eastern Ladakh.
While Phase II of ICBR is nearing completion, with all-weather roads already facilitating faster movement of security forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the government is pushing ahead with new road construction under Phase III. This initiative is part of a broader effort to accelerate border infrastructure development following the 2020 standoff with the Chinese army at Galwan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Shinku La tunnel project, a crucial component of the ICBR initiative. This 4.1-kilometer tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and Leh, significantly enhancing the movement of armed forces and equipment.
India's border with China spans 3,488 km across Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. The first two phases of the ICBR project, planned in the early 2000s, identified 73 strategic roads, with 61 entrusted to the BRO. Phase III will add five new roads in eastern Ladakh, constructed by the BRO and CPWD.
The government has made significant progress in recent years, more than doubling the pace of road construction since 2017. The Union budget for 2024-25 allocated ₹6,500 crore to the BRO, a 30% increase from the previous year. Additionally, ₹1,050 crore was allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the Vibrant Villages Programme, aimed at developing border villages along the China border.
The Vibrant Villages Programme, with a total allocation of ₹4,800 crore for 2022-23 to 2025-26, has identified 2,967 villages in 19 districts for comprehensive development. The first phase prioritizes 662 villages, including 455 in Arunachal Pradesh and 35 in Ladakh.
