SRI NAGAR: At a time when China is upgrading road and rail infrastructure along its border with India, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has failed to complete at least 70 border projects along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Ministry of Defence, 70 road projects within a 100 km radius along the LAC in the State were sanctioned some five years back. “These were significant road projects and would have granted easy road connectivity access to some border points with China in Ladakh of J&K,” a source said.
However, despite five years’ time, the 70 road projects, which are vital in ensuring connectivity between troops and civilians, have not been completed.
The BRO has attributed the slow pace of progress to delays in forest/wildlife clearance, hard rock stretches, limited working season, difficulties in the availability of construction material and delays in land acquisition.