Itanagar: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 28,229 crore for constructing the 1,637 km Arunachal Frontier Highway connecting 12 districts of the state along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China international border.
This ambitious highway project to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore is not only of strategic importance but also holds significant promise for the socio-economic development of the border state. The project is seen as a move to counter China’s aggression in Arunachal Pradesh.
The highway is being constructed along the ‘India-Tibet-China-Myanmar’ border and the road project will be as close as 20 km from the LAC and international borders.
Starting from Bomdila, the highway will pass through towns like Nafra, Huri, and Monigong, concluding in Vijaynagar near the India-Myanmar border.
It will link 1,683 villages, providing vital infrastructure to remote regions near the international borders.
“The Centre has sanctioned Rs 28,229 crore for the Arunachal Frontier Highway, which will connect 1,683 villages. The national highway being built parallel to the MacMohan Line will be completed by 2027,” Chief Engineer of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and head of Project Brahmank, Subhash Chandra Lunia, said.
The highway is expected to be completed by 2027, he said.
He said work is under progress for constructing the 198 km stretch (Tato-Tuting) of the Arunachal Frontier National Highway-913.
By providing all-weather connectivity, it enhances the mobility of troops and ensures the development of critical border areas. Since 2014, the budget for the BRO’s road development and maintenance projects has doubled, reflecting the government’s focus on border infrastructure.
The highway is expected to transform Arunachal Pradesh by improving connectivity, boosting trade, and creating employment opportunities in remote areas.
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The Arunachal Frontier Highway stands as a testament to India’s resolve to fortify its border infrastructure while fostering growth and connectivity in one of its most strategically significant states.