The Center has approved new roads and infrastructure along the Chinese border

A bridge under construction in Arunachal Pradesh along the border with China. | Photo credit: Abhinay Lakshman

Amid ongoing clashes with the Chinese Army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh since late July, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has cleared the construction of new border infrastructure in the northeastern state, a senior government official told The Hindu.

Earlier in February, the Cabinet Committee on Safety (CCS) had cleared the third phase of the Indo-China Border Road (ICBR-III) project. As many as 26 roads are to be constructed along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh under this plan, another government official said. The Union Government has not yet officially announced the ICBR-III project or disclosed these details.

Post-Galwan Infrastructure Project

It is only the second time since the Galwan clashes in eastern Ladakh in 2020 that a critical road infrastructure project has been approved along the border with China.

The first phase of the ICBR was launched in 2005 when it was decided that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would build 27 priority roads with a total length of 608 km along the border with China.

The second phase of the ICBR, comprising 32 roads with a total length of 683 km, was approved on 21 September 2020, just months after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in eastern Ladakh.

More bridges in border areas

Since September, the ITBP has authorized the construction of 15 pedestrian suspension bridges and 18 log bridges in Upper Subansiri and Kurung Kumey districts, covering areas bordering China in Arunachal Pradesh.

The approval of the project came days after India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit from September 11 to 13 in New Delhi, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. A government statement after the meeting said Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that peace and tranquility in the border areas remained the fundamental basis for the continued development of bilateral relations. He stressed the need for both sides to abide by existing agreements and arrangements on border issues.

Also read | BRICS Summit 2026: India, China stress need for peace and tranquility in border areas

In December 2020, the MHA approved the construction of 18 footpaths, including footbridges, log bridges and rest camps, totaling 598.27 km in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

‘Continued throw-in’

On 22 October this year, former ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur mentioned that “run-ins” with Chinese troops were “continuing at several places in Arunachal Pradesh”.

Addressing the Himveer Samman Samaroah at the Central Training College in Alwar, Rajasthan, Mr. Kapur said, “For the past few days, there has been a situation of face-off at several places in Arunachal and it is still going on. Our commando Shaurya has played an exemplary role in this.”

The 1 hour and 13 minute video of Mr Kapur’s speech – in which he also emphasized the need to invest and develop drone and anti-drone technology, saying it may not be possible to counter China through traditional methods as they have invested heavily in modernizing their weapons and infrastructure – has since been pulled from the ITBP’s official YouTube page.

High-level border negotiations

Tensions persist in Arunachal Pradesh despite three high-level border talks between India and China since July. The 36th meeting of the WMCC (Working Mechanism for India-China Border Consultation and Coordination) was held on August 6. This was followed by the 25th round of special representatives’ talks on the border issue on August 26 in Beijing, where India was represented by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. On September 6, the first ever Corps Commander-level meeting between the two armies was held in the eastern sector at the Vacha-Damai border staff rendezvous point in Arunachal Pradesh. Such encounters have so far largely taken place at the Chushul-Moldo border junction in eastern Ladakh, especially after the June 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

The Army and ITBP are deployed along the Chinese border and long-range patrols are regularly sent to forward areas. Due to weather conditions, such patrols are only broadcast between June and October in Arunachal Pradesh.

Published – 12 Nov 2026 21:21 IST