The tension along Line of Actual Control nothwithstanding, India is doubling down on infrastructure building in border areas. All roads and tunneling projects in border areas will be resumed in the next few days. They had been scaled down because the Covid-19 pandemic

But as India moves towards lifting the natinwide lockdown, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has decided to speed up and resume work on all its important projects in the Himalayan Frontier. Next week it is arranging to transport the all-important work force to various projects.

At least a dozen special trains are scheduled to originate from Jharkhand carrying over 20,000 laborourers to different destinations in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand and Ladakh. The plan is not to waste the limited working season between April and October, espcially in Ladakh

Labourers from Assam will be transported to Arunachal Pradesh to resume work there. Some of the important ongoing projects in Ladakh are several strategic roads. One of them is the alternate route to Ladakh: The Nimu-Padam-Darcha road is being undertaken across the Sinkunla Pass.

The main axis from Manali to Leh traverses through Rohtang, Barlachla, Lachungla and Tangdangla Passes. The opening of Atal Tunnel (pix) below Rohtang now provides all weather connectivity to Lahaul & Spiti Valley. However, Ladakh still remains cut off during winter

The existing Padam-Kargil road has been connected to the Nimu-Padam-Darcha Road providing connectivity along Manali-Atal (Rohtang) Tunnel-Darcha-Padam- Kargil alignment. Once Sinkunla tunnel comes up the road will provide all weather connectivity to Zanskar Valley & Ladakh.

Similarly, work on Sela tunnel (see pix) connecting Tezpur in Assam to Tawang is on in full swing. Once done, it will provide all-weather connectivity to the important frontier with China in the Kameng sector