New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) Close on the heels of Dokalamstandoff, the defence ministry has decided to significantlyenhance infrastructure along the nearly 4,000 km-long Sino-India border including around the areas of dispute.
The decision was taken at the Army's commandersconference which extensively deliberated on the Dokalam faceoff with China besides analysing all possible securitychallenges on the northern border, official sources said.
Director General Staff Duties Lt. Gen. Vijay Singh,briefing on the outcome of the conclave which was attended bytop defence ministry officials among others, said it wasdecided that there would be considerable "heft" towards roadconstruction activities in the northern sector.
He said the commanders also examined organisationalchanges of some of the formations to enhance existingcapability, indicating that the Army leadership was looking atbolstering its current operational preparedness to meet anycontingencies.
In his address at the week-long conference which began onMonday, Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat asked thecommanders to be prepared for all eventualities at all times.
In this regard, he also emphasised the need to accordpriority to procurement of arms, ammunitions and equipment,Lt. Gen Singh said.
Official sources said capacity enhancement along theSino-India border was a major focus area and the conclavedecided to boost infrastructure along the entire stretch withChina including around areas of dispute.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also addressed theconference and lauded the swift and effective response of theArmy in dealing with external and internal threats.
The minister emphasised "the need to guard againstinimical forces and talked about the need for jointness andintegration of all the services in effectively dealing withemerging challenges," said Singh.
Troops of India and China were locked in a standoff inDokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped thebuilding of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army.
The 73-day-long face-off ended on August 28, and dayslater Rawat had said that China has started "flexing itsmuscles". He warned that the situation in India's northernborder could snowball into a larger conflict.
On boosting infrastructure, Singh said "four passes toNiti, Lipulekh, Thangla 1 and Tsangchokla have been decided tobe connected by 2020 on priority." All these passes are inUttarakhand.
It was decided that additional funds will be alloted tothe Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a defence ministryentity, to carry out infrastructure projects.
He said a roadmap for intra sector connectivity withincentral sector and inter-sector connectivity with neigbhouringareas have been discussed.
"The issues that were highlighted or discussed duringthe conference related to infrastructure and capabilitydevelopment along the borders," Lt. Gen Singh said.
He said Sitharaman also affirmed that the morale andwelfare of armed forces personnel shall remain a priority areafor the government.
The minister also stressed on the capability enhancementof the Army in a time bound manner. PTI MPBRT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.