India-China Border Roads


India-China Border Roads project is a Government of India project which aims to develop the infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border by constructing "strategic roads". Several entities are responsible for constructing ICBR, including Border Roads Organisation which handles the bulk of the ICBR road construction work, NHAI, MoDNER, Central Public Works Department, National Projects Construction Corporation, PWDs of respective states and otheers. China, after significantly upgrading infrastructure in Tibet Autonomous Region with five airbases, an extensive rail network and more than 58,000-km of roads network, is also resorting to "a slow but steady cartographic aggression" to keep India under geostrategic pressure.
BRO is responsible for constructiing 105 ICBR, including 73 ICBR roads in Phase-1 to be completed by December 2020 and 32 ICBR roads in Phase-2. BRO is responsible for the road network of 32,000 km lengbth, out of which 67% are assigned to ICBR roads. Out of 73 ICBRs in Phase-1, less than 50% were complete by 2018, subsequently with additional funds the speed of construction increased. Some of the important projects include the already completed Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road and under construction Rohtang tunnel in the Ladakh; and in the northeast the under construction Sela Tunnel and an under construction tunnel under the Brahmaputra river with Indian Railways.

History

Strategic infastructure requirements

In the wake of heightened road and track construction work undertaken by China along India's Northern & Eastern Frontiers, India constituted a China Study Group in 1997, to study the requirement of road communication, along the China border for brisk movement of troops in case of aggression. At the end of the study, the CSG identified network of 73 roads called India-China Border Roads, to be developed along the Indo-China border.
The Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999 approved the construction of these roads by the Border Roads Organisation under the Ministry of Defence. The project was to be completed by 2006 but the deadline was then extended to 2012.
The Standing Committee on Defence, a body for legislative oversight, appraised strategic road connectivity in 2018. With regard to the slow pace of construction of border roads, the Border Roads Organisation stated to the committee:

Requirement for strategic roads

Ministry of Defence submitted a total operational requirement of 852 roads of length 30118 km to the BRO. Out of this, border roads have been classified under the Long Term Roll on Works Plan ; that is 530 roads spanning 22803 km including 73 ICBRs. The work structure for the ICBRs is divided among different agencies. Out of the 73 ICBRs, BRO was responsible for 61 roads while the remaining to other departments such as the National Buildings Construction Corporation, Central Public Works Department, National Projects Construction Corporation and state public works departments. ICBRs are present in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh has the most proposed ICBRs numbering 27.
Funds were also diverted from "General Staff roads" to ICBRs.

ICBR project phases

Phase-1: 73 roads with December 2020 target completion

As of January 2020, the present revised target completion date for Phase-I is December 2020. Of the 73 ICBR in Phase-1, 61 roads assigned to BRO and remaining 12 to CPWD.
ICBR progress:

Some of the important projects include the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road and Rohtang tunnel in the Ladakh; and in the northeast the Sela Tunnel and a road and rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra river with Indian Railways.

Phase-2: 32 roads

Phase 2 aims to construct 32 roads along the border. In June 2020, amid the India-China skirmishes, the government asked all bodies to speed up the construction of the roads. Additional labour was also sent to these areas to assist in speeding up construction.

List of ICBRs

Incomplete list of ICBRs as follows:
Sr NoName of RoadPhaseStateLengthBridgesCompletedComments and citation
1Orang- Kalaktang –Shergaon- Roopa- TengaAssam/ Arunachal Pradesh158Kalaktang, Gajni, Shikari, Sher, Balemu, Bomnag, HaflongYes
2Jang-RamasapperArunachal Pradesh64-
3Sangestar – KharsanglaIArunachal Pradesh16-Yes
4Ghastoli- RattakonaUttarakhand18-
5Nelong-NagaIUttarakhand8.10-YesNelang-Pulam Sumda sector.
Ref:
6Naga-Sonam-KumalIUttarakhand11.65Jadganga River bridgeYesNelang-Pulam Sumda sector. Nelang-Naga forks into 2, to Sonam and Jadhang IBTP BoP.
Ref:
7Naga-JadhangIUttarakhand5.5-YesNelang-Pulam Sumda sector.
Ref:
8Sumna-RimkhimUttarakhand14-YesBara Hoti sector.
Ref:
9LGG -Mukto-TeliArunachal Pradesh53-
10Tama Chung Chung -TaksingIArunachal Pradesh54-Yes
11TCC-MazaArunachal Pradesh47.38-
12Yarlung-LamangArunachal Pradesh18.58-
13Tr Jn-Bheem Base-DokalaSikkim19.72-
14Tato-Manigong-TadagadeArunachal Pradesh89.70-
15Joshimath-MalariUttarakhand62.67Dhak, Tamak, Suraithota, SubaigadheraYes Bara Hoti disputed sector is 100 km from Joshimath. Joshimath-Malari road forks to 2 different ITBP posts at Malari, to Sumna-Rimkhim post in the east and another post to the west.
Ref: ITBP has 42 BoPs in Bara Hoti sector and Mana Pass area.
Ref:
16Malari-GirthidoblaUttarakhand-Yes Bara Hoti disputed sector.
17Girthidobla-SumnaUttarakhand-Yes Bara Hoto disputed sector.
Ref:
18Sumna-RimkhimUttarakhand-Yes Bara Hoto disputed sector.
Ref:
19Musapani-GhastoliUttarakhand9.52-
20Nacho-TCCArunachal Pradesh78.45-
21LGG-Mukto-TeliArunachal Pradesh53-
22Leh-Upshi-SarchuLadakh249.62-
23Tawaghat-GhatiabagarhUttarakhand19.51-
24Bona -GellingArunachal Pradesh-
25Harong - ChushulLadakh-
26Sasoma - SaserlaLadakh-
27D-S-DBOILadakhShyok Gang-I, Shyok Gang-II, Shyok Gang-II, Shyok-IIYes
28Koyul – Photila – Chisumle - ZurasarLadakh-
29Nemo-Padum-DarchaHimachal Pradesh/Ladakh-
30Ghatiabagarh-LipulekhUttarakhand80-
31BJG-LGGArunachal Pradesh45Tawangchu-II/ Tawangchu-III
32Balipara-Charduar-TawangArunachal Pradesh334-
33Gangtok- ChunghangSikkim-
34Khinzemane-ZemithangIArunachal Pradesh-Yes
35Marsimikla-Hot SpringsLadakh-
36Phobrang-MarsimiklaLadakh-
37Mana-Mana Pass56 kmUttrakhanda-YesNelang-Pulam Sumda sector.
Ref:
38Munsiyari-MilamUttrakhanda-YesBara hoti sector.
Ref:

Related geostrategic projects

Geostrategic initiatives

has an integrated Western Theater Command across the whole LAC with India. Indian Military has divided the LAC into 3 sectors - the western sector across Ladakh and the Chinese-held Aksai Chin, the central sector across Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand states, and the eastern sector across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states. Similarly, Indian Airforce has Prayagraj-based Western Air Command, Delhi-based Central Air Command, and Shillong-based Eastern Air Command to cover the LAC.
India's Ministery of Defence has identified at least 15 new geostrategic rail lines to be constructed near China, Pakistan and Nepal border for the rapid and easier deployment of troops. China has built lines upto to Shigatse in Tibet, with plans to connect it to Nepal and further to India. After these lines proposed by MoD in 2013, GoI appoved the initial surveys of all 14 lines in 2014, Some of these as well as other related projects are as follows:

Border road projects

As of June 2020, ICBRs included a total of 26 road tunnels, of which 7 were complete and 19 road tunnels were under planning stage. As of November 2017, BRO was constructing 17 road tunnels of a total length of 100 km, on some of the 73 strategic roads on Sino-Indian border to provide the year-round all-weather rail and road surface connectivity. Some of these tunnels have dual road and rail usage. Presently, road access to high altitude posts on Sino-India border is closed for six months every year due to snowfall and rain, and supplies are through air lift only. These tunnels will reduce the travel time and operational costs, eliminate the risk of avalanche and landslide. Some of these tunnels are under construction while others are still in planning stage. List of tunnels, from west to east along India China border, is as follows:
SNSectorNameStateLength in kmOperationalStatus/Comment
1EasternZoji LaJammu and KashmirNOn Srinagar-Kargil-Leh NH1.
2EasternLungalacha LaLadakhOn Leh-Manali Highway.
3EasternBara-lacha laLadakhOn Leh-Manali Highway.
4EasternTanglang LaLadakhOn Leh-Manali Highway.
5EasternShingo La near NimoHimachal PradeshOn Leh-Manali Highway.
6CentralRohtang TunnelHimachal PradeshOn Leh-Manali Highway.
7CentralChar Dham multiple rail/road tunnelsUttrakhandSee Char Dham Rail and Road projects.
8WesternTheng PassSikkim0.578On NH310A between Chungthang and Tung in North Sikkim.
9WesternNechipu PassArunachal PradeshNear Bomdila and Sela Pass tunnels on NH13 Bogibeel Assam to Tawang.
10WesternBomdilaArunachal PradeshNNear Bomdila and Sela Pass tunnels on "NH13 Bogibeel-Tawang.
11WesternSela PassArunachal PradeshNNear Bomdila and Sela Pass tunnels on "NH13 Bogibeel-Tawang.

Sea ports and waterways projects

pport development project and Waterways projects will also enhance geostrategic capabilities along LAC and elsewhere. Following waterway projects in Assam on Brahmaputra River and its tributories are of geostrategic importance for the movement of military assets:
SNSectorCodeNameStateLength in kmOperationalComment
1EasternNW2Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of Brahmaputra RiverAssam891Y
2EasternNW6Aai RiverAssam121
3EasternNW16Barak RiverAssam121Y
4EasternNW18Beki RiverAssam73Y
5EasternNW30Dihing RiverAssam114Y
6EasternNW31Dhansiri River-Chathe RiverAssam110N
7EasternNW32Dikhu RiverAssam63N
8EasternNW33Doyans RiverAssam, Nagaland61N
9EasternNW57Kopili RiverAssam46N
10EasternNW62Lohit RiverAssam100N
11EasternNW82Puthimari RiverAssam72N
12EasternNW95Subansiri RiverAssam111N
13EasternNW38Gangadhar RiverAssam, West Bengal62

Northeast connectivity projects