Itanagar: Infrastructure push along North East international borders
The process of building adequate infrastructure, particularly border connectivity, has gained momentum in the northeastern states and the Arunachal Frontier highway is testimony to it.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said more thrust is being given on infrastructure development as the Centre wants to tackle the border issue.
Work on the 2000-km highway has already started in certain sections and work is going on in full swing for construction of the Sela tunnel, located at a height of 13,700 feet.
Khandu said the Centre has increased the presence of army and paramilitary personnel on the border with China after the recent standoff between both neighbours while responding to a question from Congress MLA Ninong Ering
Referring to the recent face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Yangtse in Tawang district, Khandu said that India is not as before. The situation has changed after the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre.
Yangtse is located in Mukto constituency, represented by Khandu in the assembly.
Khandu asserted that earlier, there was no infrastructure in the border areas. Now the scenario has changed with more impetus on strengthening border infrastructure in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is capable enough to tackle such a situation.
The clash near Yangtse took place amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.
The chief minister said that, because of Modi, the voice of the people on the border issue can now be heard, which was not the case earlier.
He added that previously, after a minister visited the Northeastern state, the next day China used to protest. Now such protests are not seen even after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to the state in recent times.
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