Arunachal: Major push to infra for quick mobilisation of troops

Rupa (Arunachal Pradesh): India is giving a major push to boosting connectivity and use of high-tech surveillance along the nearly 1,350-km Line of Actual Control in the Arunachal Pradesh sector to ensure quick mobilisation of troops and heavy weaponry to deal with any eventuality in the face of the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh .

As part of the mega plan, around 20 bridges, a number of tunnels, airbases and several key roads are being developed in strategically key areas in Arunachal Pradesh to bolster the overall military preparedness, officials said on Monday.

Major General Zubin A Minwalla, General-Officer-Commanding of the 5 Mountain Division, said the focus has been to further strengthen road infrastructure as well as the use of high-tech surveillance equipment to create more battlefield transparency.

The 5 Mountain Division is tasked with keeping vigil over areas from Bum La to west of Bhutan and is considered one of the most critical formations of the Indian Army. "The adversary cannot surprise us now. We are confident of what our goal is and we are not going to be surprised by them," he told a group of reporters while elaborating on steps being taken by the Indian Army to boost military preparedness.

"We are following an approach of confidence in dealing with any possible situation. The Indian Army's focus has been on maintaining the sovereignty of the land," Maj Gen Minwalla said. He said there has been a "tremendous push" on infrastructure development by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the civilian government.

"There is no such increase in deployment (of troops). We are creating more (battle field) transparency through technology. We are using technology to increase our awareness of the entire situation," he said.

Maj Gen Minwalla said besides road connectivity, the larger push has been on use of high-tech equipment for surveillance and to enhance assets of the Army Aviation so that they can act as "force multiplier" "We are giving more push in terms of enhancing capabilities by our own means of technology and processes in terms of infrastructure," he said.

"We are not reacting. We have our own plans and are confident of meeting our own goals and targets in terms of capability building," he said when asked whether India's overall approach is reactionary towards China.

Anant Kumar Singh, an engineer with the Border Roads Organisation, said around 20 bridges are being constructed besides many key roads and tunnels.

He said the tunnels in Nechiphu and Sela pass will be ready much ahead of their scheduled timeline for completion in August next year.

The major road projects include construction of a road from Zero Point near Tenga to Itanagar and another one called 'Western Axis road from Shergaon to Tawang. "These two roads will be crucial for overall capability enhancement," said Singh.