NEW DELHI – Government is proposing to construct a 608-km road passing through five states to develop infrastructure and trade links along the Indo-China border and raise new paramilitary units to strengthen Border Guarding Forces (BGFs).
The road link will span through areas from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh, informed sources said on Sunday.
Expected to cost about Rs 900 crore, the road will be guarded by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) along with the Army.
“With the trade mart at Sherathang for business through Nathula (in Sikkim) becoming operational, India-China border trade is expected to start this year,” they said.
India’s border with China is characterised by high- altitude terrains and thin habitation resulting in inadequate development of infrastructure in these regions.
“In addition to upgradation of road infrastructure by the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry has prepared a proposal to construct a road link totalling 608 kms along the India-China border,” the sources said.
The decision to resume trade between India and China through Nathula was taken in 2003.
