INAUGURATION OF 44 BRIDGES MID IND-CHINA TENSIONS
On October 12, 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 bridges that were built by the Border Road Organization. The minister also laid a foundation stone of Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. Out of the 44 projects eight are in Ladakh region at various locations. These new bridges are located in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Out of the 44 bridges, eight are in Ladakh, 10 in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Himachal Pradesh, four in Punjab, eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, and four in Sikkim. Eight bridges in Ladakh, that were built at a cost of 45 Crore are on four strategically important roads close to Line of Control on West and Line of Actual Control on East in Ladakh region. The bridges built in a record time are not just strategically important but also key in socio economic Development of Ladakh region. As the situation along India's borders with Pakistan and China, Rajnath Singh said, all are well aware of the situation created along our northern and eastern borders and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 km with these countries, where the tension remains.
BORDER ROAD ORGANIZATION
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries. BRO maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The BRO was formed on 7 May 1960. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Currently the Director General of BRO is Lt. Gen Harpal Singh.
ROLE OF BORDER ROAD ORGANIZATION
• To Develop & Maintain the Operational Road Infrastructure in the Border Areas.
• To Contribute to the Socio-Economic Development of the Border States.
• To Develop & Maintain Roads to Keep Line of Control through in Original sectors.
• To Execute Additional Tasks as laid down by the Govt Contributing to the War Effort.
INDIA'S STRATEGIC PLANS
India has currently developed the border infrastructure along Line of Actual Control in order to keep a check on Chinese activities in the region. The Chinese are illegally establishing bases and carrying out developmental activities. These are against the 1993 and 1996 agreements signed by the countries. In June 2020, India allocated 10% funds of the Border Area Development Programme to develop infrastructure along Line of Actual Control. Under the programme, Rs 784 crores was allocated. The fund is being used to develop strategically important towns and villages in the border areas. The inauguration of 44 bridges will improve connectivity in the far-flung areas of western, northern and north-eastern sectors, and fulfill the aspirations of local people. They would also meet the transport and logistics requirements of the armed forces throughout the year.
BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
It was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1986-87. It was initiated during the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90). BRO had completed the construction of 28 major bridges last year, while 102 major bridges are under construction, of which 54 have already been completed.
The BRO has also completed construction of 60 bailey bridges to meet immediate requirements of the armed forces and border population. The BRO’s budget was nearly stagnant at Rs 4,000 crore between 2009 and 2015, before jumping to Rs 5,400 crore in 2017-18. It has now reached Rs 11,000 crore for the 2020-21 fiscal. The states that are covered under the plan are Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tripura, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
NECHIPHU TUNNEL
The Defence minister also laid the foundation stone for the Nechiphu tunnel on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The 450-metre-long, two-lane tunnel would ensure all-weather connectivity across Nechiphu Pass besides providing a safe and secure passage through accident-prone areas. The tunnel, once constructed, will connect Tezpur in Assam, which is the logistics base of the Army, to Tenga Valley where one of the forward divisions of the Army is located. Meanwhile there are three passes — Bomdilla, Nechiphu and Sela. “Nechiphu being the boundary between the high humidity Brahmaputra plains and the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh is known to be perennially foggy and prone to landslides. The tunnel will provide a direct link between the Tenga Valley and plains of Tezpur". Tawang lies further ahead to Tenga Valley at a distance of around 200 km and are connected by inhospitable roads.
QUESTIONS (1-5)
Q.1 Which of the following Union Minister have inaugurated the 44 bridges in Ladakh and other regions mid India & China tension?
A. Narendra Modi
B. Rajnath Singh: ANSWER
C. Nitin Gadkari
D. Nirmala Sitharaman
Q.2 44 bridges inaugurated was built by Border Road Organization. Which of the following is the Chairman of Border Road Organization?
A. Prime Minister of India: ANSWER
B. Defence Minister
C. Finance Minister
D. Minister for Road transport & Highways
Q.3 Which of the following statements is/are wrong about Border Area Development Programme?
A. It was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1986-87.
B. The Budget for the Programme is 11,000 crore in 2020-21.
C. It was initiated during the Sixth Five Year plan).
D. Both A & B: ANSWER
Q.4 Which of the following statement is correct about the role of Border Road Organization?
A. To Develop the Operational Road Infrastructure.
B. To Contribute to the Socio-Economic Development of the Border States.
C. To Execute Additional task as War Effort.
D. All of the above: ANSWER
Q.5 The defence minister during the inauguration laid the foundation stone for the ________ on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
A. Atal Tunnel
B. Nechiphu Tunnel: ANSWER
C. Bomdilla Tunnel
D. Sela Tunnel
