73 roads being laid on Sino-India border: Rijiju

“The government has decided to undertake construction of 73 roads of operational significance along Indo-China border. Out of these 73 roads, 46 are being constructed by the Ministry of Defence and 27 by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, said in reply to a written question. 

He said 30 roads had been completed so far. The roads were scheduled to be completed by 2012-13. The major reasons for the delay included limited working season combined with logistical issues due to high altitude, rugged and difficult terrain, natural calamities, delay in forest/ wildlife clearances and land acquisition, Rijiju said. The minister said a number of steps have been taken to expedite the road projects such as setting up of a high level empowered committee, headed by the Union home secretary. 

India and China have been engaged in a standoff in the Doka La area along the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction for the past three weeks after a construction party of the Chinese Army attempted to build a road in the region. 

India should not use “trespass” into the Doka la area as a “policy tool” to achieve its “political targets”, China said on Tuesday, asking New Delhi to immediately withdraw its troops to avoid any escalation. To another question whether Beijing stated that patience was running out over the issue, the ministry said, “We have reiterated our position on the illegal trespass by the Indian side.”