During his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh since the December 2022 Yangtse clashes between Indian and Chinese troops, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 28 infrastructure projects. One of the important projects included a strategically important bridge over the Siyom river that will be capable of ferrying tanks and artillery guns. Significantly, the Siyom bridge is crucial for Indian troops, given its location. In what is another important development in terms of India’s preparedness to counter China, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built 3,097 km of roads in Arunachal over the past five years. In what is also being seen as a bold message to China, Rajnath Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh on 3 January and dedicated 28 BRO infrastructure projects worth Rs 724 crore to the nation. The more China shows aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the more India must aggressively go ahead with such infrastructure development plans. New Delhi should continue to give Beijing a clearcut message that its infrastructure projects on the border areas in Arunachal Pradesh and other regions near LAC would go on unhindered. China must be given the message that its attempt to alter the status quo on LAC would be dealt with sternly and strongly by India. The Defence Minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in itself a clear message to China that India is fearless, and, of course, prepared to deal with any challenges from Beijing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already indicated that the infra push on the border with China in Arunachal Pradesh and in other parts of the country is a priority for his government. Analysts believe and, rightly so, that Rajnath Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh reaffirms this priority of the Modi government. During his visit to Arunachal Pradesh last year, PM Modi had said that border villages were not the last but first outpost of India. It was a clear message to China that India will not allow it to encroach upon its land in Arunachal. Obviously, Chinese reactions to Rajnath’s visit cannot be ruled out. But India has been successful in sending out the message that its border developments are really unstoppable, come what may. There are reports that China remains concerned about the fact that the budget for Border Roads Organisation (BRO) always sees a significant jump in India, with focus on the infrastructure development along the LAC, especially the Northeast. Of the total number of highway projects worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore announced by the central government for the Northeast earlier last month, Arunachal Pradesh got the lion’s share of the works, amounting to Rs 44,000 crore. Similarly, projects that were dedicated by Rajnath Singh on 3 January included 22 bridges, three roads and three other projects in seven border states and Union territories of northern and north-eastern regions. Eight of these projects are in Ladakh, five in Arunachal, four in Jammu and Kashmir, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan. The BRO is expected to complete a major project by July 2023— the Sela tunnel, connecting Guwahati in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal. Does it not signal India’s determination to boost its infrastructure and developmental projects along the LAC, with growing Chinese aggressive behaviour in mind? India’s huge investment in upgrading and developing border infrastructure must be seen as a welcome development in terms of its strategy to counter China. The way India has been aggressively ramping up infrastructure on its border with China must be giving sleepless nights to the Communist rulers in Beijing. With President Xi Jinping reportedly expected to pursue a more aggressive policy on the border with India, New Delhi’s strong message through major border infra push is a much-needed and timely move. With this in the background, the Indian security establishments must be on the watch and alert to counter any misadventure by Chinese troops. Needless to say, the improved connectivity to the forward areas of LAC will be of immense help to the Indian soldiers in giving befitting response to the PLA troops.
