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Border Infrastructure Development Along China Border

14 Nov 2026

Tags: Prelims   Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) sanctioned new infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh amid continuing face-offs with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Indo-China Border Roads (ICBR) Project

  • ICBR-I (2005): 27 priority roads; total length 608 km.
  • ICBR-II (2020): 32 roads; total length 683 km; approved after the Galwan clashes.
  • ICBR-III (2026): Approved by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS); 26 roads to be constructed along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.

Recent ITBP Infrastructure Projects

  • Construction authorised for:
    • 15 pedestrian suspension bridges.
    • 18 log bridges.
  • Locations: Upper Subansiri and Kurung Kumey districts, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • 2020 approval: Union Home Ministry sanctioned 18 pedestrian tracks, including suspension bridges, log bridges and staging camps, covering 598.27 km.

Key Terms

  • LAC: The de facto boundary separating Indian- and Chinese-controlled territories; not mutually delineated throughout its length.
  • ITBP: Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); primarily guards India's borders with China.
  • Galwan Valley clash (2020): Violent confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh; 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
  • CCS: Chaired by the Prime Minister; the highest decision-making body on India's security-related matters.

Prelims Question

Q1. With reference to the Indo-China Border Roads (ICBR) Project, consider the following statements:

  1. ICBR-I was approved in 2005 and covered 27 priority roads with a total length of 608 km.
  2. ICBR-II was approved in 2020 following the Galwan Valley clashes.
  3. ICBR-III envisages the construction of 26 roads along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.
  4. All three phases of the ICBR project are exclusively concerned with road construction in eastern Ladakh.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (c) 

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is Correct: ICBR-I (2005) covered 27 priority roads spanning 608 km.
  • Statement 2 is Correct: ICBR-II (2020), covering 32 roads and 683 km, was approved after the Galwan clashes.
  • Statement 3 is Correct: ICBR-III (2026) envisages 26 roads along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Statement 4 is Incorrect: The project is not exclusively concerned with eastern Ladakh. ICBR-III specifically concerns Arunachal Pradesh.

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